From Guatemala to Gallery: The Story Behind 'Las Casas de Antigua' Collage
It’s been a little while since I’ve shared new work, but life has kept my hands full in all the best ways. Today I’m excited to return with a piece that feels close to my heart and heritage: a visual translation of Antigua’s iconic houses, brought to life through collage and color.
Sometimes a single photograph holds more power than you realize. This is the story of how one imperfect photo from my first trip back to Guatemala became a featured artwork in La Horchata Zine.
THE FEATURE THAT STARTED IT ALL
If you're subscribed to my newsletter, you already know that I am about this news. Several of my works were featured in La Horchata Zine, and "Las Casas de Antigua" was among them. Being highlighted alongside other Central American creatives felt like coming full circle—my roots, my art, and my journey all converging in one meaningful moment.
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN: A MOTHER-DAUGHTER TRIP
The photograph that would eventually become this collage was taken during my first trip back to Guatemala with my mother. She knew how deeply I'd fallen in love with Antigua Guatemala, so she took us there twice on that trip. Even that wasn't enough—I return to Antigua every time I visit Guatemala. It's my happy place, truly.
That original photograph was captured with a very inexpensive camera. I was learning photography basics and hadn't even taken a single studio art class yet. I had no idea that a simple image would become anything more than a travel memory.
THE CREATIVE CHALLENGE
Fast forward to my college years and studio classes. I had a drawing project, and my professor hadn't been particularly enthusiastic about my previous work choices. I was still learning how to select subjects for my art, and honestly, my confidence was at an all-time low. I figured if no one else would appreciate my work, I should at least create something I loved.
So I asked myself: what did I want to see in my art? The answer came quickly—the places I'd traveled to. The architecture and people were retelling the stories of places I'd explored. That's when I returned to those photographs from my happy place, images that now carried the added weight of memories shared with my mother, who had passed away a few years earlier.
THE TRANSFORMATION PROCESS
My professor kept challenging me to push my photographs further. Looking back, I think she was trying to get us to move beyond just documenting what we saw. She once told the class we were "spoiled visually" because we'd seen so much that we weren't creating truly original work.
This challenge led me to experiment with Photoshop, though I honestly didn't know what I was doing. I spent hours layering photo upon photo upon photo—different sizes, different angles, all building on each other. Then I combined this digital collage with a light intaglio piece from my printmaking class, which was created from another Guatemalaphotograph.
The process was intuitive rather than planned. I was learning to let go of perfection and embrace experimentation.
THE ARTWORK REVEALED
“Las Casas de Antigua” - A layered collage featuring multiple photographs of colorful colonial houses from Antigua Guatemala, combined with printmaking elements.
The final piece became something I never expected—a visual story told through layers. At that time in my artistic journey, this was the wildest thing I'd ever created. I was still such a newbie, and letting go of control felt terrifying. But in the end, I loved the artwork, even if I wasn't sure it was "complete" or if anyone else would find it interesting.
FROM CLASSROOM TO GALLERY
Four years later, after college, I was preparing for my first solo exhibition. I wanted an artwork that would give viewers a glimpse into my follow-up series to "Fragments," and this piece spoke to me. Several people at the show mentioned how different and intriguing this collage felt compared to my other hanging pieces.
Now, seeing it featured in La Horchata Zine brings everything full circle. What started as a nervous experiment in a college classroom has become part of a celebration of Central American artistic voices.
THE DEEPER MEANING
"Las Casas de Antigua" represents more than just colorful colonial architecture. It's about layers of memory, the complexity of cultural identity, and the way places hold our stories. Each layer in the collage mirrors how we experience memory—overlapping, shifting, sometimes clear, and sometimes fragmented.
This piece taught me that art doesn't always need to be planned or perfect. Sometimes the most meaningful work comes from following your instincts and pushing beyond your comfort zone.
WHAT’S NEXT
This feature has reminded me why I fell in love with creating art about the places that shape us. I'm currently working on new pieces that explore similar themes of cultural identity and place-based memory.
Have you ever had a creative project that began as one thing and transformed into something completely different? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below.
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