Today we’d like to introduce you to Bárbara Miñarro.
Bárbara, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was born in Monterrey, Mexico and raised in a border town called McAllen, TX. I have now officially lived half of my life in Mexico and the other half in Texas. I often joke about not being from here nor there; too Mexican for the Americans, too American for the Mexicans. This is something I struggled with growing up but I have learned to come to terms with it. And honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
When I was younger, I never thought of living anywhere else, but Mexico. I didn’t speak any other languages and the only time I went to the United States was for shopping purposes (back then $10 pesos amounted a dollar). But then a series of unforeseen events took place that displaced my family to the states. At the time, I only knew basic English words and knew how to follow along simple conversations. I taught myself English by reading books with a dictionary next to me at all times and watching Hannah Montana. The first book I remember reading with a bit of success was S.E. Hinton’s “The Outsiders.”
Since I was young, I knew I wanted to be a creative. I honestly don’t remember when I decided to become a visual artist. I believe it was the moment I signed up for college and had to pick a major; I chose Fine Arts. But this was no coincidence. I come from a family of makers and creatives. My maternal grandfather is an urbanist and architect, my mom is a painter and seamstress (all-around creative), and my fraternal grandma was a seamstress. So I was lucky to have this ancestral knowledge was passed on to me.
Fast-forward to the present, I graduated with honors from the University of Texas at San Antonio and I am currently working as a digital media coordinator at a contemporary art center while juggling my artistic career.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
This is hard to answer. However, I can answer with certainty that it has not been a smooth road for many reasons. I promise I won’t go into too much depth, but one of the reasons is that it feels like I am still living through some of these struggles. As a 20-something-year-old who has been out of college for 3 years, I think I sometimes struggle with the idea of what is socially acceptable and what are the societal goals/what is seen as okay vs. what I want.
My advice, which in part is advice I am giving myself, is: Do what’s right for you. As cheesy or cliche as that sounds, I firmly believe it. Try to leave all those voices outside your head when you are thinking of what YOU want to do, it’s not easy, believe me, but you will be a lot happier with the decisions you make; really try to define that for yourself. Take time and listen. Not everyone’s path is linear, especially if you are an artist.
I just remembered what one of my professors from art school once told our advanced painting class, “don’t let those voices follow you to the studio” — I think, for the first time, this makes sense to me.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with your business – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I am a visual artist who primarily works with reclaimed clothing and other fabric. I also paint and do photography, but I would say I mail do 2D and 3D work with fibers. As an artist influenced and making a life between two cultures, my work explores ideas of the body in migration. My soft sculptures, installations and paintings utilize the tactile memory of clothing, the earth and the physical body to express the emotional journey of immigration.
Were there people and/or experiences you had in your childhood that you feel laid the foundation for your success?
Definitely. As I mentioned before, I came from a line of creatives and makers. I definitely believe in ancestral knowledge being passed down and how that has influenced me into being an artist. Another big experience that continues to play a role in my life is being an immigrant. Although painful at times, I believe it has allowed me to be more flexible and adaptable to different environments and situations.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.barbaraminarro.art
- Email: barbaraminarro@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/barbaraminarro
Image Credit:
Image courtesy of Bárbara Miñarro.
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