Meet Artist of the Month Crystal Galindo

This month, I have amazing artist Crystal Galindo sharing her work with us! She is a Yaqui-Xicana artist living in the San Francisco Bay area. “Determined to perfect her skill, she spent countless hours filling lined notebooks with her studies of figures, ranging from close-ups of faces to cholo style portraits. Crystal’s main influence in the arts was her father, who gave up his own dreams of portraiture to support his family.” I interviewed her to learn more about her inspiration, her background, and her story. See the interview and photos of her work below.

Also make sure to visit her website at https://www.crystalgalindo.com/store to purchase her work. And follow here on IG @crystalgalindoart. Her store includes the pieces shown below and more!

Carolina: 1. What inspires your work?

Crystal: My life experiences inspire me so much! I feel like the artwork that spills out of me is a reflection of what I have lived through as a xicana from California, mixed with the multiple layers of who I am and how I have evolved. The indulgence and celebration of culture coupled with my imagination and bold colors truly define what I make.

Growing up, I didn’t see women who looked like myself or my family in magazines, entertainment, or in art. I wanted my work to empower other women to celebrate and embrace themselves as well.

Carolina: What’s your cultural background?

Crystal: I am Mexican- American, identifying as a Xicana (indigenous descending) also of Yaqui descent. In short, I am Yaqui-Xicana. I grew up in California’s central Valley, coming from farm workers who settled down in Tulare County. I acknowledge and embrace the broad, shared experiences of where I come from as well as the longing for the home of my ancestors.

Carolina: What are your hobbies outside of art?

Crystal: I love road trips, taking naps, laughing doing makeup and singing. Growing up I knew I was an artist, but also wanted to be a professional singer.