Meet Carlos Ibarra | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Carlos Ibarra and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carlos, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I’m from Nogales Arizona. Like many Nogales natives, I grew up trying to find an identity that reconciled, or struck a balance between, the culture and country I was born in – that is, the United States – with the culture and heritage of the country my family came from, Mexico. That childhood struggle to find a single identity from opposite poles eventually seeped its way into my work. Most of the art I’ve made have been attempts to examine two seemingly opposite things and combine them into one thing imbued with a new and unique meaning.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Being an artist means embarking on a difficult journey. There is the ideological struggle of trying to set your work apart from the rest – trying to find one’s own voice, while simultaneously dealing with the practical struggle of earning enough money to subsist, let alone thrive. Art is unique when the artist’s personality comes through. It takes a long time to realize that you just have to be yourself to make your art your own. Just like our genuine personalities won’t be to everyone’s liking, neither will our art. However, it will be genuine, honest and there will be a market for it. As an artist, you should only strive to please yourself. Buyers are attracted to that.

There are two big lessons I’ve learned to become a better artist and a financially successful one:
One, to become a better artist never stop being creative – paint, sketch, cook, write a joke, play an instrument, write a poem, make puns (yeah that’s right! Puns are a great way to get an instant creative fix), debate issues you’re passionate about, make a sculpture with tin foil or any material. All these exercises can take a few hours or even a few seconds. Just keep being creative!
Two, to gain financially from your labors market your work!! Get your name and your work out there! Marketing, especially when your name is not known yet, plays the most important factor in actually having an artistic career. Even if you’re the most gifted artist in the world, no one will buy your work if they don’t know your work exists.

I am an artist who has fallen in love with creating murals that contain a single theme, but are layered with the possibility of multiple meanings. I love big, ambitious projects that welcome the eye of everyone and undergo the test of time. That is the challenge and future I want for my work.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Nogales, Arizona is a small town limited in options. However it does have one of the best restaurants in southern Arizona. Cocina La Ley is a great place known mostly for its seafood. That would definitely be a great local spot to visit. Walking around downtown Nogales is a treat. There are many historic commercial buildings and homes as well as a nascent public arts scene. Standing by the border and taking in the view into Mexico is one of the most interesting things to experience in Arizona. Walking across the border is almost like experiencing a whole different world. It offers tons of activities and there are tons of great eating options without straying too far from the border. Moreover, there are some beautiful areas surrounding Nogales Arizona. Tubac is a great small town for walking around and grabbing a nice dinner. Just south of Tubac is Tumacacori which has a beautiful old mission. Patagonia, Sonoita and Elgin are beautiful towns/areas that offer desert respite, great restaurants and produce great wineries — all within a 20 to 30 minute drive.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Where credit is due, the first people that come to mind are, of course, my family. They have been extremely supportive throughout this rocky and difficult journey that is an artistic career.

Currently I am working on the biggest project I have ever undertaken. It’s a 36 ft. x 18 ft. mural in downtown Nogales. It’s an ambitious project that will have taken over a year to complete (some photos enclosed). The painting represents the story of growing up in two sister cities, each on either side of a border. This project would not have been possible without the amazing help from the following: Evan Kory, the Kory family, Aissa Huerta, Alfredo Velasquez, La Linea Art Studio, Santa Cruz Advocate for the Arts, Pimeria Alta Historical Society, Shipley Family Foundation, and individuals who have received limited edition prints in exchange for their generous donation.

Instagram: @carlosibarra.art