An Exploration of La Virgen de Guadalupe

Community Exhibit featuring Rebecca Garcia, Allina Hakim, Anaïs Isiria, and Amaranta Sandys

La Virgen de Guadalupe stands as a beacon of resilience, love, and cultural endurance. In a world shaped by patriarchy and colonization, she emerges as a powerful force of comfort and defiance. Through our art, we celebrate her presence—one that has offered strength to generations and continues to inspire devotion across Latin America and beyond. 

La Virgen’s origins are deeply intertwined with both Catholic and Indigenous traditions. She is often recognized as a fusion of the Virgin Mary with ancient deities such as Tonantzin, Coatlalopeuh, and Coatlicue. Her apparition to Juan Diego in 1531 is a defining moment in Mexican history, signifying not just the introduction of Christianity but also the survival of Indigenous spirituality. Her brown skin, Aztec symbolism, and maternal embrace reflect a faith that was never fully erased by colonization but rather transformed and reclaimed by the people. 

To many, La Virgen de Guadalupe represents more than a religious figure—she is a mother, a protector, a revolutionary, and a source of healing. She embodies love and justice, offering refuge to the marginalized and strength to those in struggle. Her image graces altars, murals, textiles, and tattoos, carrying messages of hope, unity, and perseverance. Whether seen as the divine feminine, an Indigenous goddess, or a guiding light, she remains a timeless symbol of faith and empowerment. 

Through this exhibition, we honor La Virgen in her many forms: Our Lady of Guadalupe, Tonantzin, La Morenita, La Virgencita, and beyond. With each piece, we seek to reflect her enduring power and the deep reverence she holds in our communities. In celebrating her, we reclaim our histories, uplift our traditions, and continue the legacy of devotion that has made La Virgen a profound and everlasting presence in our lives. 

Artist Biographies 

Allina Hakim

Meet Allina, a passionate artist with over 22 years of experience creating vibrant acrylic paintings on wood, canvas, and other unique surfaces. Born in the City of Angels, Allina’s love for art was first born in high school, where doodling on her papers helped her focus in class. “I like to think of myself as a patternist,” she says. “Being half Mexican and half Lebanese, my roots have always influenced my work. I use bold colors and intricate patterns to express my vision and my cultural heritage.” 

Allina recently completed a Día de los Muertos series of paintings, using a variety of materials such as folded paper flowers, metallic papers, gold foil, painted wood, and resin glazes. Her work has been showcased at events like Fiestas Patrias at Seattle Center, the 192 Halloween Market, Raw Artist popups, and the City of Burien Día de los Muertos exhibition. A coffee lover and cat enthusiast, Allina enjoys blending creativity with the life of the community in everything she does. 

You can follow her art on Instagram: @TintaViva__ 

For art inquiries you can email her at: allinahakim@gmail.com 

Amaranta Ibarra-Sandys

Amaranta Ibarra-Sandys, is a South King County based full time Visual Artist and Educator. She graduated from Insituto Nacional de Bellas Artes in Mexico City with a degree in Ceramics and Folk Art. After 25 years living in Seattle, she calls the PNW home. She is the Creative Director of ArtMaranth Mobile school, Educator, Producer El Jardin de Frida interactive art installation, Public Artist and Community Builder. 

Amaranta is a Mixed Media Visual Artist using colorful texturized landscape using acrylics, clay, glass mosaics and discarded objects depicting Goddesses, Sea Life creatures and her colorful Dia de Muertos illustrations; all in search to reclaimed ancient rituals, foods and language while blending elements of PNW. She uses her artistic platform, as a tool for social change in hopes to inspire others to have a fulfilling purpose on life. 

Anaïs Isiria

Anaïs Isiria (she/her) is a queer Latina, joyfully loud, colorful, and believes that being silly and so outlandishly herself is how she not only resists but thrives. She is autistic, bipolar and neurodivergent. She calls Redmond home.

Her artwork is intensely felt, with bright vivid colors interwoven with poetry. Anaïs finds inspiration in the extraordinary and mundane throughout her life, which her artwork reflects. Anaïs utilizes her typewriter, exuberant acrylic paints, and Procreate (digital art).

Anaïs recently had her first solo show at el Centro Cultural Mexicano. She has had work showcased at Slip Gallery, Reb1 Studios, Nepantla Cultural Arts, Seattle Center and South Bellevue Community Center. Anaïs earned her Sociology and Anthropology degree at Lewis & Clark College with both departmental honors and summa cum laude in Portland, OR. 

Email: anaisisiria@gmail.com 

IG: @artbyanaiss 

Rebecca N. Garcia

Seattle-based artist, Rebecca N. Garcia, has been cultivating her skills in watercolors for the last four years. Originally a vocalist and composer for the Latin Jazz Band, Todo Es, Rebecca now uses both her watercolor skills and her years of musical experience to delve into themes of identity, sensuality, connection and nature. 

She has shared her art at Prism Art Gallery in Philadelphia, for the What Women Create exhibit, and showcased her pieces at the Seattle Erotic Art Festival in May 2025 for a third year in a row. 

Whether on the stage or on the page, Rebecca thrives on creative exploration and invites you to join her. 

Follow her on Instagram @rngarciaart.