ABOUT THE ARTIST
Cha Gutiérrez is a diasporic Puerto Rican-Mexican American artist whose work explores identity, matriarchy, ancestral wisdom, and the resilience of women. Raised in Phoenix, Arizona, she grew up deeply immersed in both her Mexican American and Puerto Rican heritage—an experience that continues to shape her artistic vision. Through bold figurative portraiture, surreal natural elements, and evolving interdisciplinary techniques, Gutiérrez delves into themes of cultural preservation, generational storytelling, and the unseen labor of women in their roles as caretakers, knowledge bearers, and community pillars.
Cultural Duality, Ecofeminism & Artistic Influences
Gutiérrez’s artistic identity is deeply intertwined with the landscapes of her heritage. Having grown up in the Sonoran Desert, she often incorporates desert imagery as a nod to her Mexican American roots and upbringing in the Southwest. Simultaneously, she feels a profound connection to the tropical landscapes of Puerto Rico, where her maternal lineage originates. Her frequent trips to the island—both in childhood and adulthood—have influenced her fascination with the contrast between these two environments, mirroring her ongoing exploration of balance, belonging, and cultural identity in her work.
At the heart of her work is a deep respect for the interconnection between women, nature, and survival—a principle that aligns with ecofeminist ideology. Just as matriarchs pass down cultural knowledge and traditions, the land itself carries wisdom, sustains life, and reflects the consequences of exploitation and care. This theme is evident in works like Squandered Abundance, which confronts the destruction of ancestral land, and Madre Tierra, where the concept of Mother Earth is reimagined as a community of women, guiding and nurturing future generations.
Art was present in Gutiérrez’s life from an early age. Her father, a former art student, introduced her to drawing, painting, and creative expression, while her grandmother gifted her a book about women artists that sparked her lifelong love of art history. She later studied fine art at the School of Visual Arts in New York and Arizona State University, focusing on figurative painting. Over time, she found herself drawn to storytelling through portraiture, depicting women as symbols of strength, continuity, and cultural preservation.
Matriarchy, Cultural Storytelling & The Emotional Weight of Women’s Roles
Much of Gutiérrez’s work examines the matriarchal figures who hold families and communities together, exploring both the beauty and burden of that responsibility. She is particularly drawn to the shared experiences of women of color, many of whom become the keepers of tradition, history, and resilience. As the eldest daughter in a Latino family, she personally relates to the expectations placed on women to carry on culture, uphold family values, and serve as emotional anchors—themes that frequently emerge in her paintings.
Through works like The Mother Tree, Madre Tierra, and She Who Sits on the Internal Throne, Gutiérrez reflects on generational trauma, healing, and the complexities of intergenerational relationships. Whether depicting women in moments of strength, reflection, or vulnerability, her work encourages viewers to contemplate the women in their own lives—their struggles, their sacrifices, and the cultural legacies they sustain.
Evolving Mediums: Painting, Fiber Arts & Printmaking
While oil and acrylic painting remain the foundation of her practice, Gutiérrez is in a new phase of artistic exploration. She has begun incorporating fiber arts, embroidery, and textile-based techniques—a tribute to her great-grandmother, a textile worker and embroiderer in Puerto Rico. These new mediums allow her to bridge fine art with traditional craft, highlighting the often-overlooked role of women’s labor in cultural storytelling.
The integration of textiles also reflects a larger conversation about the historical dismissal of women’s artistic contributions, challenging the idea that fiber arts are merely decorative or domestic. Gutiérrez’s practice not only reclaims these techniques as forms of storytelling and resistance but also aligns with ecofeminist values, emphasizing sustainability, traditional knowledge, and the preservation of ancestral techniques.
Additionally, she is eager to expand into printmaking and cyanotype printing, experimenting with ways to merge these techniques with her painted works to create a multidisciplinary, layered approach to storytelling.
Exhibitions & Artistic Impact
Gutiérrez’s work has been exhibited in several Latine arts organizations in Phoenix, including Xico and The Sagrado Gallery. In 2023, she premiered her first solo exhibition, Inheritance, at The Sagrado Gallery in South Phoenix, exploring themes of ancestry, identity, and matriarchal strength.
In 2025, she was selected as an exhibiting artist for Artlink Phoenix’s Art D’Core Gala exhibition, Prism, showcasing contemporary works that reflect identity and transformation.
Beyond her personal practice, Gutiérrez is dedicated to arts accessibility and community engagement. She has worked extensively with youth programs, domestic violence survivors, and undocumented women, using artistic expression as a means of mental wellness, empowerment, and healing.
Looking Forward
As her work continues to evolve, Gutiérrez is developing The Matriarch Series, an ongoing project that incorporates portraiture, oral histories, and personal heirlooms from women of diverse backgrounds. Through this series and her continued interdisciplinary exploration, she remains committed to honoring the women who shape culture, memory, and identity across generations.
