5 Latin American Street Artists You Should Know

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Over the next few days, female artists will be making their mark on street art culture in Ecuador. At the first-of-its-kind event in Ecuador, women of all ages will be participating in Warmi Paint, an all-female street art festival thought up by Maria Castillo, aka Toofly, and hosted in conjuction with Fundación Museos de la Ciudad. The event will run through November 14 and give women a chance to attend panels.

Toofly
Toofly
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Warmi Paint seeks to give more visibility to current artists and to encourage a new group of women. “We have to show them that, yes, this girl wants to paint graffiti, she wants to become a graphic designer, she can become a muralist, she can become a speaker about the culture and social issues that occur in her community and this young woman could become a voice of the culture and so being an artist shouldn’t be looked down upon,” Toofly told Vivala.

The event will feature established artists, like Lady Pink, whose been described as the first woman who was able to hang with the boys in the 80s, as well as young artists.

Here are just five that you should check out:

1

Fio Silva

Argentine artist Fio Silva hails from Villa Tesei. Her paint references nature and life, and though she worked in other mediums, she found that she preferred urban art. Her work has been in Perú, Bolivia, and France.

This year, she won Spring Projects’ Next Big Thing talent search, which allowed her to travel outside of South America for the first time. The death of a boyfriend pushed her toward street art. “I always had an affinity and curiosity for drawing but even if I was at ease with drawing, I never thought I needed it to feel good.” Fio said, according to Inspiring City. “Today it is what I love to do and what I need to do above all things.”

2

Panmela Castro

Panmela Castro uses her art to criticize the high level of violence against women in Brazil. “We face different situations that we are conditioned to obey and that most of the time are oppressive and/or prejudiced,” she told The Huffington Post. “This is why we have to change what it means to be a woman in the world.”
Like Toofly, Castro wants to use art to empower other women. She started Rede Nami to hosts workshops around Brazil.

3

Ledania

Colombian artist Ledania’s striking murals are inspired by mythology. She has many pieces in Bogotá, but in other countries as well.

4

Pau

Pau Quintanajornet was born in Chile and raised in Germany. Strong women and birds inspire her art, and it is in South America that she first became drawn to murals. Her art incorporates both parts of her identity.

“I don’t stay within the lines of national or stylistic concepts, it can merge all that has been and all there will be in the moment right now,” she said on her Facebook page. “PAU stands for the sensual inside me and all the little magic moments in everyday life, for all those things that one does not see at first glance but which should be more numerous…a kind of balm for the soul … / alimento para el alma …”

5

Abusa Crew

Abusa Crew is made up of two Chilean women, Anis and Wend. They first became acquainted with each other’s work through the Internet, but seven years ago they finally met. “The woman has become our battle flag,” they said. “We have completed various works inspired by the liberation and valorization of women in society.”