Artist Statement & Bio
Indira Urrutia is a Chilean-born multidisciplinary artist whose work explores grief, social justice, memory, and migration, shaped by her experience as an immigrant. Combining personal history with ethnographic and oral history research, engaging communities through interviews, storytelling, and observations. In her labor-intensive, meditative processes, she creates tactile works that invite reflection on resilience, displacement, and human connection.
Materials are central to Urrutia’s storytelling. She works with metal wire, cassette tapes, photography, and video, often repurposing familiar objects to shift their meaning. Knitting with cassette tapes traces back to childhood memories of her parents, who, after immigrating to the U.S., sent recorded messages home—objects that now serve as woven artifacts of memory and loss. Copper and bronze, materials deeply connected to Chile’s extractive history, allow her to challenge industrial rigidity through the softness of textile techniques.
Public space and interactive installations are integral to her work. In Romantic Memory, a street intervention in Riyadh, she knitted in a public setting, fostering reflection and spontaneous dialogue. Her participatory projects transform spaces into shared experiences, bridging past and present through traditional craft techniques within contemporary discourse.
Urrutia’s artistic journey has been shaped by movement—both personal and geographical. From collaborating on socially engaged projects in San Francisco to embarking on a 4.5-journey by bicycle from Alaska to the Chilean Antarctic, she has explored themes of migration, cultural identity, and environmental awareness. This immersive experience, connecting with diverse communities across the Americas, deepened her commitment to storytelling through material and process.
She has exhibited internationally, with recent residencies at Masaha AiR in Saudi Arabia and the Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation in the UAE. Through her practice, she honors heritage while expanding its boundaries, reclaiming slow, repetitive labor as an act of resistance and healing.
Materials are central to Urrutia’s storytelling. She works with metal wire, cassette tapes, photography, and video, often repurposing familiar objects to shift their meaning. Knitting with cassette tapes traces back to childhood memories of her parents, who, after immigrating to the U.S., sent recorded messages home—objects that now serve as woven artifacts of memory and loss. Copper and bronze, materials deeply connected to Chile’s extractive history, allow her to challenge industrial rigidity through the softness of textile techniques.
Public space and interactive installations are integral to her work. In Romantic Memory, a street intervention in Riyadh, she knitted in a public setting, fostering reflection and spontaneous dialogue. Her participatory projects transform spaces into shared experiences, bridging past and present through traditional craft techniques within contemporary discourse.
Urrutia’s artistic journey has been shaped by movement—both personal and geographical. From collaborating on socially engaged projects in San Francisco to embarking on a 4.5-journey by bicycle from Alaska to the Chilean Antarctic, she has explored themes of migration, cultural identity, and environmental awareness. This immersive experience, connecting with diverse communities across the Americas, deepened her commitment to storytelling through material and process.
She has exhibited internationally, with recent residencies at Masaha AiR in Saudi Arabia and the Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation in the UAE. Through her practice, she honors heritage while expanding its boundaries, reclaiming slow, repetitive labor as an act of resistance and healing.
VISUAL ART EXIBITIONS
• Drap-Art’25 Upcycled Art Festival, Barcelona, Spain, 2025
• Expressiones Artists-in-Residence Exhibition, New London, CT, USA, 2025
• MIGRATION, Mystic Museum of Art, Mystic, CT, USA, 2025
• Masaha Residency Showcase, Misk Art Institute, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 2024
• Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival, Ras al Khaimah, UAE, 2024
• Instituto Cervantes (Spanish Embassy), Shanghai, China, 2024
• West Bund Art & Design Fair, Shanghai, China, 2023
• +GalleryLab, Brooklyn, NY, USA, 2023
• Drap-Art’22 (Upcycled Art Festival), El Borsí, Barcelona, Spain, 2022
• Women’s History Month, Read’s Artspace, Bridgeport, CT, USA, 2022
• Real Círculo Artístico, Drap-Art’21, Barcelona, Spain, 2021
• Centro Cívic Drassanes, Conexión Arte Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain, 2020
• Until It Shatters, Root Division, San Francisco, CA, USA, 2020
• Fontecchio International Airport Gallery, Group Exhibition, Abruzzo, Italy, 2020
• La Peña Cultural Center, Group Exhibition, Berkeley, CA, USA, 2020
• Mission Art Performance Project, San Francisco, CA, USA, 2020
• Octagon Gallery, Daly City Arts & Culture Commission, Daly City, CA, USA, 2019–2020
• Gracia Studio, Transparente, Barcelona, Spain, 2019
• Festival de Par en Par, Buñol, Valencia, Spain, 2019
• Castillo de Buñol, VII Bienal de Arte y Diseño, Valencia, Spain, 2019
• Social Weaving (Solo Show), Atelier Güell, Barcelona, Spain, 2019
• New Growth, Root Division, San Francisco, CA, USA, 2018
• San Francisco Symphony, Día de Muertos Community Altar, San Francisco, CA, USA, 2014–15 & 2017
• SOMA Grand (Solo Show), San Francisco, CA, USA, 2017
• Solo Mujeres, Mission Cultural Center for Latino Art, San Francisco, CA, USA, 2015 & 2017
AWARDS & RESIDENCIES
• ARCA Artists-in-Residence, Abruzzo, Italy, 2025
• Expressiones Artists-in-Residence, New London, CT, USA, 2025
• Masaha Art Residency (Cycle 7), Misk Art Institute, Saudi Arabia, 2024
• Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation Residency, UAE, 2023–2024
• Commendation for Contribution to the Diversity of Arts and Culture, Daly City, CA, USA, 2019
• Commendation for Latinx Heritage Month, San Mateo County, CA, USA, 2019
• Latino Artist Fellowship, Root Division, San Francisco, CA, USA, 2016–2017
• First National Cycle of Photography Award, National Council for Culture and the Arts, Valparaíso, Chile, 2012
• Expressiones Artists-in-Residence, New London, CT, USA, 2025
• Masaha Art Residency (Cycle 7), Misk Art Institute, Saudi Arabia, 2024
• Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation Residency, UAE, 2023–2024
• Commendation for Contribution to the Diversity of Arts and Culture, Daly City, CA, USA, 2019
• Commendation for Latinx Heritage Month, San Mateo County, CA, USA, 2019
• Latino Artist Fellowship, Root Division, San Francisco, CA, USA, 2016–2017
• First National Cycle of Photography Award, National Council for Culture and the Arts, Valparaíso, Chile, 2012
COMMISSION WORK
• Día de Muertos Altars, San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco, CA, USA, 2014–2017
• If You Knew My Story, Curran Theatre, San Francisco, CA, USA, 2018
• If You Knew My Story, Curran Theatre, San Francisco, CA, USA, 2018
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & COLLABORATIONS
• Threads We Spin, participatory installation, Picenze & Barisciano, Italy, 2025
• Street Intervention, Souk Al Zal & The New Haraj, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 2024
• Legacy, performing art collaboration, Grec Festival, Barcelona, Spain, 2021
• Mission Art Performance Project (MAPP), Community Organizer & Artist, San Francisco, CA, USA, 2004–present
• Street Intervention, Souk Al Zal & The New Haraj, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 2024
• Legacy, performing art collaboration, Grec Festival, Barcelona, Spain, 2021
• Mission Art Performance Project (MAPP), Community Organizer & Artist, San Francisco, CA, USA, 2004–present
SELECTED PRESENTATIONS: THE GAZE FROM THE BICYCLE
• San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, USA, 2025
• Piedmont Gardens Senior Center, Oakland, CA, USA, 2025
• Expressiones Cultural Center, New London, CT, USA, 2025
• Atelier Güell Art Gallery, Barcelona, Spain, 2022
• Eroica Caffè, Barcelona, Spain, 2019
• Hillcrest Juvenile Hall (Juvenile Court School), San Mateo, CA, USA, 2018
• Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, Martha’s Vineyard, MA, USA, 2018
• Open Show, San Francisco Green Film Festival, San Francisco, CA, USA, 2016
• GRA, Equipament Juvenil Granollers, Barcelona, Spain, 2016
• Santa Clara University, San Jose, CA, USA, 2014
• Museo Martín Gusinde, Puerto Williams, Chile, 2012
• Christopher Columbus Elementary School, New Haven, CT, USA, 2012
• Faculty of Physical Science and Mathematics, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile, 2011
• Universidad ARCIS (Art and Social Sciences), Santiago, Chile, 2011
• Pablo Neruda Fundación, Isla Negra, Chile, 2011
• Casa de la Cultura, Nogales, Chile, 2011
• National Park Eduardo Avaroa, Bolivia, 2010
• Universidad Alas Peruanas, Andahuaylas, Peru, 2010
• National University José María Arguedas, Andahuaylas, Peru, 2010
• Universidad de Bracamoros, Jaén, Peru, 2010
• Universidad Amazónica Puyo, Puyo, Ecuador, 2010
• Penitentiary and Prison of Armenia, INPEC, Armenia, Colombia, 2010
• SENA Forest Engineering, San José del Guaviare, Colombia, 2010
• Centro de Bellas Artes, San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico, 2009
• Cultural Center “Los Tres Mundos”, Granada, Nicaragua, 2009
• Piedmont Gardens Senior Center, Oakland, CA, USA, 2025
• Expressiones Cultural Center, New London, CT, USA, 2025
• Atelier Güell Art Gallery, Barcelona, Spain, 2022
• Eroica Caffè, Barcelona, Spain, 2019
• Hillcrest Juvenile Hall (Juvenile Court School), San Mateo, CA, USA, 2018
• Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, Martha’s Vineyard, MA, USA, 2018
• Open Show, San Francisco Green Film Festival, San Francisco, CA, USA, 2016
• GRA, Equipament Juvenil Granollers, Barcelona, Spain, 2016
• Santa Clara University, San Jose, CA, USA, 2014
• Museo Martín Gusinde, Puerto Williams, Chile, 2012
• Christopher Columbus Elementary School, New Haven, CT, USA, 2012
• Faculty of Physical Science and Mathematics, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile, 2011
• Universidad ARCIS (Art and Social Sciences), Santiago, Chile, 2011
• Pablo Neruda Fundación, Isla Negra, Chile, 2011
• Casa de la Cultura, Nogales, Chile, 2011
• National Park Eduardo Avaroa, Bolivia, 2010
• Universidad Alas Peruanas, Andahuaylas, Peru, 2010
• National University José María Arguedas, Andahuaylas, Peru, 2010
• Universidad de Bracamoros, Jaén, Peru, 2010
• Universidad Amazónica Puyo, Puyo, Ecuador, 2010
• Penitentiary and Prison of Armenia, INPEC, Armenia, Colombia, 2010
• SENA Forest Engineering, San José del Guaviare, Colombia, 2010
• Centro de Bellas Artes, San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico, 2009
• Cultural Center “Los Tres Mundos”, Granada, Nicaragua, 2009
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS & MEDIA
• “Rains with Tears,” Mae Sural, Issue 125, 2025
• Ruth Asawa: A Retrospective, exhibition catalog, The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), 2025
• The Gaze from the Bicycle featured in: Daily Journal (Los Angeles), El Mensajero (San Francisco), Mission Local(San Francisco), El Mercurio de Calama and El Observador (Chile)
• Broadcast interviews: Tele Tica 7 (Costa Rica), City TV (Colombia), TVN (Chile), Radio Euskadi (Spain), KPOO (San Francisco, USA)
• Ruth Asawa: A Retrospective, exhibition catalog, The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), 2025
• The Gaze from the Bicycle featured in: Daily Journal (Los Angeles), El Mensajero (San Francisco), Mission Local(San Francisco), El Mercurio de Calama and El Observador (Chile)
• Broadcast interviews: Tele Tica 7 (Costa Rica), City TV (Colombia), TVN (Chile), Radio Euskadi (Spain), KPOO (San Francisco, USA)
ARTIST TEACHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
• Mi Cultura Art Project, San Francisco, CA, USA, 2013–2020
• Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive, Berkeley, CA, USA, 2017–2021
• The de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA, USA, 2013–2016
• San Francisco Youth Theater, San Francisco, CA, USA, 2015–2020
• The Marsh Youth Theater, San Francisco, CA, USA, 2006–2008 and 2013–2015
• Imagine Bus Art Project, San Francisco, CA, USA, 2007
• The Neighborhood Place, Yale–New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT, USA, 2000–2002
• Comprehensive Art Program, New Haven School District, New Haven, CT, USA, 1998–2002
• Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive, Berkeley, CA, USA, 2017–2021
• The de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA, USA, 2013–2016
• San Francisco Youth Theater, San Francisco, CA, USA, 2015–2020
• The Marsh Youth Theater, San Francisco, CA, USA, 2006–2008 and 2013–2015
• Imagine Bus Art Project, San Francisco, CA, USA, 2007
• The Neighborhood Place, Yale–New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT, USA, 2000–2002
• Comprehensive Art Program, New Haven School District, New Haven, CT, USA, 1998–2002
EDUCATION
• Bachelor of Science in Studio Art, Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, CT, USA, 1995
• Film and Printmaking Studies, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA, USA, 2004
• Teacher Training, Teaching Art Institute, California College of the Arts, Oakland, CA, USA, 2007
• Film and Printmaking Studies, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA, USA, 2004
• Teacher Training, Teaching Art Institute, California College of the Arts, Oakland, CA, USA, 2007