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CARMINA CORTES
Artist’s Bio

Carmina Cortes is a Southern California–born bilingual artist and educator whose colorful, mixed-media works celebrate her Mexican heritage while exploring themes of resilience and hope. Influenced by childhood summers in Puerto Vallarta and a deep admiration for contemporary Mexican art, her creations combine vibrant colors and layered textures to evoke both personal memory and cultural pride.

As a survivor of childhood injuries and the depression that followed, Carmina channels her journey of healing into her art, transforming pain into visual expressions of hope and connection. Her work often reflects her commitment to uplifting the Latino community, especially the youth she mentors as an art teacher.

With over seventeen years of teaching experience, Carmina has inspired countless students through her role as an art educator at KIPP SoCal and as a teaching artist for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Transformative Education while developing a black-and-white photography series documenting everyday life.

Carmina holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and has also studied at the Art Instruction Schools of Minneapolis and Santa Monica College. In addition, she holds a Communications degree from the American Communication Institute. Over the past fifteen years, she has exhibited professionally across the United States and Mexico and is a co-author of the award-winning book series Today’s Inspired Latina, Volume III.

Through her vibrant art and dedicated teaching, Carmina strives to create positive, lasting connections within her community and to inspire others to embrace the power of storytelling through art.