About
My artistic practice explores the immigrant experience, both intimately and within a broader social context. As an immigrant myself, I understand the power of visual language to transcend linguistic barriers, offering others a means to navigate and express their own journeys. Since 1989, my work has evolved through a dual practice of painting and sculptural textile dressmaking. Currently, I am developing a new series of dresses for my upcoming retrospective exhibition in 2026, marking the 40th anniversary of my immigration.
A visual artist since 1989, I have exhibited in prestigious institutions such as MNBA de Chile, MAC Montreal, the National Museum of Art in Port-au-Prince, and the Palais des Congrès de Paris. My work has also been featured in international exhibitions in New York, Chicago, and Palm Beach, as well as in galleries across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Collected and showcased worldwide, my art reaches diverse audiences across multiple continents.
My education began at Universidad Católica de Chile in the Faculty of Design and continued in Canada at Concordia University and UQAM. In 1994, I founded Art Depot, Montreal’s first gallery dedicated to immigrant artists. From 2007 to 2009, I was a national radio panelist on CBC’s Thursday Think Tank with Shelagh Rogers, Randy Boyagoda, and Brian O’Dea. From 2013 to 2023, I served as the founder and artistic director of Native Immigrant – Immigrant de Souche, an initiative bridging First Nations and immigrant communities through artistic collaborations and cultural events. I also co-founded Météque Art Gallery in NDG.
In 2022, I was invited by the Salvador Allende Foundation in Montreal to serve as curator and artistic director for the 50th-anniversary marking of the 1973 Chilean coup d’état. My leadership culminated in the highly successful exhibition Créer le Pouvoir Populaire at the Écomusée du Fier Monde (September 7 – October 22, 2023), bringing together artists, intellectuals, and writers from the Chilean diaspora alongside the Quebec community.
Long before cultural mediation became widely recognized, I was actively fostering connections through art. Over the years, I have led numerous impactful initiatives, bridging the gap between newcomers and First Nations communities. My projects have been supported by MIFI, Ville de Montréal, CALQ, CAM, CCA, and generous online donors.
Currently, I continue my work in cultural mediation while creating 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.
