“De los Andes”. 2023. Various fibers. 

I was born in Santiago, Chile, a valley surrounded by the Andes mountains. When I was nine, we moved to La Paz, Bolivia, where the Andes became my backyard. This mountainous landscape was a visual constant in my childhood… inspiring, and protective, it informed my early appreciation for shapes and patterns.

My Bolivian family was passionate about art and filled our house with beautiful weavings in muted shades of ochre, ranging from deep reds and orange to pale yellows; greens that recall weeping willows and ”cipreses” that thrive throughout Santiago, entwined with a remarkable shade of blue that can only be described as “La Paz sky blue”.

The colors and patterns that filled my childhood transport me back to a simpler time. I play with varying widths and textures of fiber, representing the many paths life takes and, as in life, take comfort in the meditative nature of weaving rows of “Tafetán” stitches to create more complex textures.

The piece, “De los Andes” (From the Andes), is my love letter to the Andes; it reflects my awe and appreciation of its majestic splendor and strength.