Chamarra Diptych (Observe and Reverse)

Born in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico and currently based in Washington D.C., Paloma Vianey received her B.A. in art history from The University of Texas at El Paso and an MFA from Cornell University. Her work centers around her heritage as a Mexican woman, working to bridge the gap between Western, and specifically American perspectives on Mexico, in contrast to how she and other Mexican people view their own cities and culture.

Chamarra Diptych (Observe and Reverse), is from Vianey’s Chammarra series. Her Chammarra paintings pay homage to her native city of Ciudad Juárez and its many landmarks and views, which are familiar sights to the inhabitants of the city. Depicting views of the cityscape enveloped in handmade zip-up sweaters, Vianey calls back to the familiarity of being enveloped in a warm jacket (chammarra), as well as suggesting the revelation or opening up of her city to the audience. With these paintings, she not only shares a part of her own lived experience, but the lived experiences of so many Mexican citizens. Her work aims to reclaim the narrative of Ciudad Juárez and Mexico more generally. Vianey hopes to foster more open and honest conversations about her heritage to an American audience that is generally exposed to narratives spread through social media, news, or film, which often paint Mexico and Mexican people in a negative light.

CAPP Committee Selection 2024 - 2025
Tenth Cycle

Paloma Vianey

2022