About
My art explores the immigrant experience—both intimately and within a broader social context. As an immigrant myself, I believe in the power of visual language to transcend words and help others tell their stories. Since 1989, I’ve worked in painting and sculptural textile dressmaking, and I’m now creating for a retrospective marking the 40th anniversary of my immigration.
Since 1989 I’ve exhibited at institutions like MNBA de Chile, MAC Montreal, the National Museum of Art in Port-au-Prince, and the Palais des Congrès de Paris, as well as in galleries across North America.
My education began at Universidad Católica de Chile (Design faculty) and continued at Concordia University and UQAM. In 1994 I founded Art Depot, Montreal’s first gallery for immigrant artists. From 2007–2009 I appeared on CBC’s *Thursday Think Tank*. Between 2013 and 2023 I directed Native Immigrant – Immigrant de Souche, co-founded Météque Art Gallery, and led many projects bridging First Nations and newcomer communities, supported by MIFI, Ville de Montréal, CALQ, CAM, CCA and online donors.
Currently, I work and create new art from my studio in the Laurentians, Quebec.
My journey
Becoming an immigrant in 1986 at the age of 21 marked the beginning of my journey in Montreal, where I pursued Fine Arts at Concordia University and graduated with Distinction. Initially, I delved into painting, reflecting on childhood memories, but soon found myself drawn to a different path. Inspired by my grandmother's teachings in crochet and embroidery, I began crafting dresses with galvanized wire, dubbing them Garments for Survival. Unexpectedly, they gained immense popularity, leading to my participation in the Biennale du Conseil des Métiers d’Art du Québec and the start of my international career.
My art serves as a medium for challenging stereotypes and addressing transcultural experiences. Through Garments for Survival, I aimed to convey a sense of protection amidst cultural assimilation. This fusion of old and new cultures is evident in my avant-garde creations, which touch upon themes ranging from historical reflections to contemporary issues like environmentalism and feminism.
In 2000, I achieved a significant milestone as part of the ALA SUR exhibition at the Chilean National Museum of Fine Arts, where I challenged traditional female archetypes through a reinterpretation of Adam and Eve. Despite my success, I felt the invisibility of being an immigrant artist, prompting me to establish Art Depot, the first gallery for immigrant artists in Montreal. This endeavor gained prominence after the 1996 referendum, where I curated an exhibition titled Le Vote Ethnique, garnering media attention and radio appearances. I was interviewed by the iconic Peter Gzowski and soon enough I was doing radio interviews both in French and English, until I had the privilege to share the microphone in CBC national radio with Shelagh Rogers every Thursday at the Thursday Think Tank with Randy Boyagoda and Brian O'dea. This was a validating experience as an immigrant, I was now, not only seen but also heard. Art Depot had a fiery ending when a cocktail molotov directed to the shop next door, burnt it to the ground.
By 2013, I embraced my role as a cultural mediator, founding Native Immigrant to foster connections between immigrants and First Nations, inspired by the Idle No More movement. As Artistic Director, I cultivated a space for multicultural practices, with dressmaking at the forefront as a collaborative art form.
During my tenure at Native Immigrant, projects like Troc-Cadeau and Pantoufle du Quartier exemplified the power of cultural exchange. Facilitating interactions between diverse communities not only enriched our collective experiences but also highlighted the value of inclusivity. The Pantoufle project, in particular, underscored the beauty of cultural diversity and inclusion, instilling a sense of pride and unity among participants.
