Like Us
I'm a 32-year-old Chilean visual artist and illustrator specializing in textile art. Currently based in
Salt Lake City, Utah, my artistic journey started way back in my childhood, surrounded by
talented weavers and craft makers in Chile.
Fiber art has always been a big part of my life. I have these amazing memories of sitting around
a table with my mom, aunts, and grandmother, knitting like crazy while enjoying some yummy
treats and sipping tea.
During my studies, I dabbled in various artistic mediums, trying to figure out what truly sparked
my passion. It wasn't until my final year of college that I stumbled upon punch needle, a
technique that instantly captured my heart. Creating punch needle portraits became my
obsession, and I knew I had found my artistic niche.
When I moved to the United States in 2018, I started missing the familiar comforts of home. To
bring a piece of Chile to my new surroundings, I reignited my love for working with yarn and
embraced punch needle once again.
Here's a fun fact: My mom actually owns a lamp factory where she crafts amazing lamps using
all sorts of materials and fabrics. And guess what? The fabric I use for my punch needle
portraits is the same fabric she uses in her popular lamps. It's like a little piece of home in every
project I work on.
In 2021, I decided to take my art to the next level by learning how to spin yarn, it completely
transformed the way I approached my work. Having the freedom to create my own yarn for each
project was a game-changer, and it motivated me to push the boundaries of my art as far as
possible.
But by the end of 2022, I hit a bit of a roadblock. Punch needle, as much as I loved it, had its
limitations when it came to achieving intricate details. I realized that to really dive into the
details, I needed to work on larger pieces. Plus, spinning my own yarn added an extra layer of
complexity.
So, in 2023, I took a trip back to Chile and discovered an incredible fiber community in the
south, deeply rooted in tradition. Inspired by my own rich heritage, I returned to my studio with a
fresh perspective and a burning desire to incorporate elements of their tradition into my own
work.
That's when weaving stepped onto the scene as my new artistic adventure.
Today, I'm still exploring the intricate world of weaving, focusing on the portraits I had in mind
when I started my fiber journey in 2017. Exploring this new technique and pushing the limits.
Through my work, I seek to honor the legacy of indigenous textile arts, while also bringing a
modern perspective to these age-old techniques.
