For those who are boo’d up (or perhaps in a situationship), finding a perfect gift for Valentine’s Day can be a frustrating experience. Not only are there just too many options (so many stores are decked out in pinks and reds, hearts, Cupids, and etc), but the card aisle doesn’t typically offer products that capture our culture in fun and funny ways. And that’s where Ugly Primo comes in.
The California-based artist has created a Valentine’s Day-themed series. Starting last week, he began sharing Valentine’s Day cards that anyone immersed in Latino culture would recognize. The first features an illustration of Sweethearts – the chalky candies that have long dominated the holiday – with a twist. On one side, Bad Bunny’s face sits below a pink heart that reads “Eres Mía.” The other side includes Drake’s face and the lyrics to the song they collaborated on last year.
The next card was created with Vicente Fernández fans in mind. Set against a bright blue background, Chente – dressed in a charro suit – holds a single flower. The card reads, “To: My hermoso cariño.”
Ugly Primo has yet to release all of the images, but he has at least four more he’ll drop in the next few days. And while he’s still uncertain about the drop schedule, he did know he wanted to do something for his followers. “I’m romantic AF, and I want everyone to bring out the Antonio Banderas in them,” he tells me in an email. “Some primos/primas don’t have money to buy flowers or a fancy gift for their loved ones, so I want to help them flatter their significant others [easily with] a DM.”
Given that Ugly Primo often infuses humor and pop culture in his pieces, we can only expect more of the same in his upcoming pieces. And if you’re single and don’t have anyone to send his cards to, he offers a word of advice: “If you don’t have anyone yet, don’t lose hope, relax, and just cry. But don’t rush into it; let things happen naturally. Stay romantic, loyal, and be safe.”
Follow him @uglyprimo on Instagram.