Artwork: Close up: Cat Barrera, Emotional Surfer, Digital Art , 24" x 24", 2020
Support our August 2020 Changarreando Artist, Cat Barrera, as we adapt the program to a new and exciting internet feature: “Changarreando” In the spirit of Changarrito, the pop-up mobile art gallery where artists can sell their work to the public, Changarreando with Cat Barrera allows the artist to bring their work to you. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for updates on original work available for purchase as well as behind the scenes of the artist’s work, space, and creative process.
About the Artist:
Cat Barrera is a 27 year Digital Pop Surrealist born in the Texas Hill Country. Daughter of Mexican immigrants, her travels between the US and Mexico have greatly influenced her spiritual beliefs by combining Catholicism with the occult and it’s influenced her vibrant color palette. Her love for anime and cartoons sparked her interest in drawing at a young age leading to painting and finally settling into the digital world of art. Currently, Cat has an associates degree in Graphic Design from Austin Community College and currently freelancing as an illustrator and self taught animator. Cat’s art has been used and displayed as poster art in various music venues throughout Austin where she currently resides.
“My work explores the relationship between spirituality and mental health in the feminine realm. With influences as diverse as Japanese anime, pop surrealism, the occult, Texas fashion, and music, it reflects the journey into the spiritual realm as a means to cope with mental illness.”
Presenting Changarreando
Changarrito is an art vending cart, conceptualized by artist Maximo Gonzalez as an alternative to the official gallery selection presented by the Mexican cultural authorities. The word "changarreando", is a verb form that comes from the noun "changarro,” slang originating in Mexico City for “a small retail store.” The suffix “-ando” adds significant meaning to the word but can be summarized here as indicating the act or action of hanging out at a "changarro” with the featured artist.
Faithful to their original, informal spirit, Changarritos exist throughout the world, evolving as forums for the sale of original artwork to the general public, presentation of public programs, special curatorial projects, individual and collective exhibitions. Changarreando takes this a step further to connect with people through social media, generate interaction with art, and embrace the digital era with our existing programs!
Changarrito Residency
True to the Mexic-Arte Museum’s mission, the Changarrito and Changarreando are dedicated to the presentation and promotion of contemporary Latinx and Latin American art. Normally, artists have the opportunity to sell their art on the Changarrito cart in front of the Museum (or an offsite location, as representative for the Museum during various Austin festivals). Changarreando expands the reach of the artist by presenting their gallery online, while allowing the option to sell merch over Instagram and receive 100% of the sale. For each Changarrito/Changarreando artist, the Museum acquires a work of art for its permanent collection.