Artist Bio
An artist of Mexican and Basque descent, living in Salt Lake City, Carina Barajas has been interested in drawing and painting from a young age.
Carina uses various brush and pallet knife painting techniques that enhance the texture and intensity of her work. She uses bold strokes of color to establish values in an impressionist-like way. Carina paints what she is inspired by at the moment, whether it's vegetables from her garden, her cultural heritage, landscapes from her travels, and more.
Her art is an ever-evolving reflection of inspiration drawn from her experiences. Infused with a dreamy quality, her paintings evolve through the manipulation of color, composition, and perspective.
In 2022 and 2023, Carina spent 4.5-months, assisting and attending an art residency, at Chateau d’Orquevaux artist residency in France. She was extremely inspired by the other creatives in the residency, as well as the environment surrounding the Chateau, so she painted a series about pathways and the mystical nature of the forest, that are inspired by the various trails she hiked during her stay in France.
Carina also works on numerous commission paintings, digital illustrations, and murals for various clients.
Carina Barajas graduated in 2016 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts with an emphasis in Painting and Drawing, and minor in Arts Technology, at the University of Utah’s College of Fine Arts.
Photo taken by Mary Catherine Lowery
CV
EDUCATION
2010 - 2016 University of Utah: BFA, Emphasis in Painting/Drawing, Minor in Art Technology
RESIDENCIES
2024 Chateau d’Orquevaux Artist Residency, Orquevaux, France, 1 month, Artist and Assistant
2023 Chateau d’Orquevaux Artist Residency, Orquevaux, France, 3 months, Artist and Assistant
2022 Chateau d’Orquevaux Artist Residency, Orquevaux, France, 1.5 months , Artist
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022 “South Jordan Artist on Display” South Jordan City Hall, Gale Center of History and Culture, South Jordan, UT
2015 “Objects and Self,” Mestizo Art Gallery, Salt Lake City, UT
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024 Women’s History: Past, Present, and Future, Mestizo Coffeehouse, SLC, UT
2024 Shades of Expression, Urban Arts Gallery, SLC, UT
2024 Love Letters to the West Side, Mestizo Institute of Cultural Art, SLC, UT
2023 SCERA Public Art Show, Ogden, UT
2023 LatinArte: Nuestras Raices, Our Roots Art Show, Salt Lake City, UT
2023 Tiny Art Show, Holladay City Hall, Holladay, UT
2022 Art Access 300 Plates Fundraising Event, Salt Lake City, UT
2016 University of Utah Undergraduate BFA/ALT Exhibition, Salt Lake City, UT
2015 University of Utah Undergraduate BFA/ALT Exhibition, Salt Lake City, UT
AWARDS
2023 1st Place, Tamales y Textiles #1 and #2, SCERA Public Art Show, Ogden, UT
2023 2nd Place, Tamales y Textiles #2, LatinArte: Nuestras Raices, Our Roots Art Show, Salt Lake City, UT
ART FESTIVALS | ART MARKETS
2024
Space at The Hive Market Store in Trolley Square since 2021,
Salt Lake City, UT
2023
Craft Lake City Holiday Art Market, Ogden, UT
Fisher Brewery Holiday Art Market, Salt Lake City, UT
Utah Art Market Holiday Show, Salt Lake City, UT
Utah Art Market Fall Show, Salt Lake City, UT
Millcreek Arts Festival, Salt Lake City, UT
Fisher Brewery Art Market, Salt Lake City, UT
2022
South Salt Lake Craftober Fest, Salt Lake City, UT
Urban Arts Festival, Salt Lake City, UT
Millcreek Arts Festival, Salt Lake City, UT
Fisher Brewery Art Market, Salt Lake City, UT
PERMANENT COLLECTIONS
2023 La Maison du Bateau - Original Oil Painting, Chateau d’Orquevaux Artist Residency, Orquevaux, France
PUBLIC ART | MURALS
2022 Mural Commission, 10’ x 20’ Mountain Scene, Salt Lake City, UT
2022 Apprentice Muralist with Artist, Atentamente Una Fresa, South Salt Lake Mural Fest, Mural located on Beehive Distilling, Salt Lake City, UT
2021 Large Whiskey Barrel Painting, South Salt Lake Craftoberfest, Salt Lake City, UT
2015 Lenguaje de Esperanza" (Language of Hope), Esperanza Elementary, West Valley City, UT
BOOK PUBLICATIONS
2017 Illustrator of Galtzagorriak and Other Creatures: Stories Inspired by Basque Folklore, Published Book by Caryn Larrinaga
PRESS
2024 Nadia Valentine: “Love Letters to the West Side: Celebrating the Roots We Hold Close” SLUG Magazine, January 17
2022 Jesse M. Gonzalez. “Craftoberfest Celebrates Fourth Year in a Growing Community” The City Journals - South Salt Lake’s Own Community Newspaper, November 3
2016 Joseba Etxarri. “Carina Barajas, Basque born in Utah: “I was raised by strong people, especially by women of strong spirit” Euskal Kultura Basque Heritage Worldwide, May 6
2015 Rick Egan. “New mural celebrates Utah school's Latino culture — with colors galore” The Salt Lake Tribune, December 11