Spotlighting San Antonio-based IAP Mentoring Program Alumna Bárbara Miñarro

NYFA’s Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program is returning to San Antonio this fall. We invited Bárbara Miñarro, a San Antonio-based alumna, to share what motivated her to join the program and provide takeaways.

Born in Monterrey, Mexico, and residing in San Antonio, TX, artist Barbara Miñarro explores ideas of the body in migration. She participated in NYFA’s Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program: San Antonio in 2018 and was part of the Admitted: USA exhibition featuring cohort artworks at Centro de Artes. She shares why she applied for the program, and what she learned from it.

This competitive program is open to artists from all disciplines. Apply here before Monday, August 12, 11:59 PM CT (En español).

New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA): Tell us about your practice and how your immigrant identity shapes your practice, if at all?

Bárbara Miñarro (BM): As an artist influenced by and navigating life between two cultures, my work explores ideas of the body in migration. In my soft sculptures, installations, and paintings, I utilize the tactile memory of clothing, the earth, and the physical body to express the emotional journey of immigration. I mainly work with reclaimed clothing that belonged to my grandma, mom, sister, or myself to create sculptures and installations, but I also love to paint with oils.

I believe that the art we create is an extension of ourselves, so everything I create is inspired by my lived experience of being an immigrant in the U.S.

I believe that the art we create is an extension of ourselves, so everything I create is inspired by my lived experience of being an immigrant in the U.S.

Bárbara Miñarro

NYFA: What motivated you to apply for the 2018 Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program San Antonio? 

BM: I had just graduated from college and felt the need for guidance. Transitioning from a structured school environment with professors mentoring me weekly, I suddenly felt disconnected from that community once I no longer saw them every day. When the opportunity to apply to this program arose, it seemed like a no-brainer to me.

One of the most impactful aspects of the program was the connections and friendships I formed. Additionally, one of the best tips for my art career to date has been the importance of documenting my work. Working with site-specific installations, thorough documentation during installation is crucial.

NYFA: What was one tip that you learned from the Mentoring Program that you would like to share with our immigrant artist community? Where are you in your arts career? 

BM: One of the most significant lessons I learned from the program was the value of community. I embrace the mentality of “If you grow, I grow,” and vice versa. I am currently working on my portfolio so I can start applying to different MFA programs in the near future.

One of the most significant lessons I learned from the program was the value of community.

Bárbara Miñarro

About Bárbara Miñarro  
Bárbara Miñarro was born in Monterrey, Mexico, and currently lives and works in San Antonio, TX. As an artist influenced and making a life between two cultures, Miñarro’s work explores ideas of the body in migration. Her soft sculptures, installations, and paintings utilize the tactile memory of clothing, the earth, and the physical body to express the emotional journey of immigration.

–Ya Yun Teng, Program Officer, Immigrant Artist Program

This post is part of the ConEdison Immigrant Artist Program Newsletter #171. Subscribe to this free monthly e-mail for artist’s features, opportunities, and events. Learn more about NYFA Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program.