Olivia Barrionuevo

"My portraits and studies explore my heritage and intercultural observations as a Mexican artist based in Los Angeles. I pursuit of inspiring critical, cross-cultural dialog within our community.

I had developed a fascination in subcultural movements and historical traditions. Such as symbolism and culture which continues to guide my aesthetic and conceptual concerns as seen through my work for the last 20 years

One of my latest project which is Mayan script and writing systems, to document present-day letterform. Through my studies, I have concluded that ancient Mexican writing styles and symbols, as well as glyphs, Arabic letters, the Chinese alphabet and other historic forms of written communication, are precursors of letterforms used by graffiti writers in Los Angeles.

I worked with photography, installations and film to convey the image through stills, moving subject and use of space within an installation. "

Barrionuevo was born in Nogales, Mexico, studied Communications at the University Autonomous of Guadalajara. Later moved to Europe where she studied and began her passion with photography and Art History. She continued her studies at Santa Monica College and graduated from Art Center College of Design.

As a photojournalist, Barrionuevo has covered Mexican presidential elections.
Has been awarded internships at the Los Angeles Times and Annie Leibovitz. And continues to explore with multimedia photography.

Her work has been exhibited at Center for Fine Arts, Museum of Tolerance,University of Judaism, Self-Help Graphics, Belenky Gallery in NY, The General Consulate of Mexico in Los Angeles, Art Takes Times Square in NY and State Universiity of Hermosillo in Sonora, Mexico, Casa Europa in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico and MOPLA (Month of Photography in Los Angeles) in Communities and Cultures, upcoming traveling exhibition for Human Rights 2016 worldwide.

Her work is in the permanent collection of Centro de la Imagen in Mexico, City.
She had won numerous awards. Book of the Month by A&I, International Photography (IPA) in Advertising, Portraiture and Children category, Center for Fine Art Photography, Women in Photography, and best innovative video in Europe for “The Nun” commercial and Shortlisted, 2012 -13 for the prestigious Lucie Foundation Scholarship.




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