Marcela Sinnett
My artwork responds to the cultural erasure of minority groups forced to assimilate into dominant norms. Through mixed media printmaking and illustration, I explore mestizaje in El Salvador, a concept that suggests a shared Latino identity but often erases Indigenous and lower-class communities and pressures them to conform to Eurocentric ideals.
I see the body as a vessel of memory, where layers of material reflect layers of cultural and racial identity. Each work examines belonging, adaptation, and erasure in the Salvadoran experience. By combining Indigenous lore, Catholic traditions, and ornamental patterns, I reimagine spaces where multiple ethnicities coexist and challenge the flattened stereotypes imposed on marginalized communities.
My practice focuses on collaborating with Salvadoran artists and researching cultural traditions that are endangered or being revived. Through these processes, I preserve and reinterpret ancestral practices in contemporary forms. I aim to honor Indigenous ancestors, translating their beliefs and techniques into the present while maintaining the integrity of handcrafts and creating works where cultural memory is both embodied and tangible.
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Marcela Sinnett is a Salvadoran-American artist whose multicultural upbringing and travels to different countries have shaped her understanding of individual and collective identity. Her work examines mestizaje and the erasure of Indigenous and marginalized cultures. Currently, she researches añil (indigo), reconnecting with Salvadoran heritage and Indigenous traditions while exploring how ancestral materials and cultural practices inform memory and identity.
