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[title]La Chola Poblete, a 34-year-old artist from Guaymallén, Mendoza, is making her voice heard loud and clear in contemporary art. Now living in Buenos Aires, her work delves into her Bolivian family heritage and her identity within Argentina, where she currently resides. She identifies as a "brown artist," a label she embraces daily, and through her work, she honors history, celebrates diversity, and invites reflection on her territory.
Her participation in the 2024 Venice Biennale marks a milestone in her career, projecting Mendoza's voice onto the international stage. At the event, she received a special mention among more than 300 talents. In her speech, La Chola declared, “I am the first trans and brown artist from Argentina to reach the Biennale. Argentina is not white.” With these words, she challenges the boundaries of representation, opening a dialogue about identity and culture in contemporary art, celebrating the diversity that defines us.
"I am the first trans and brown artist from Argentina to reach the Biennale"
Who is La Chola Poblete?
I am a person who was lucky enough to do and say what I wanted, and for it to resonate. An artist.
You define yourself as an "artist." How does this self-identification influence the freedom and diversity of your work?
The only label I feel comfortable with is that of an artist. If I could have an ID that listed my gender as "artist," I would be happy.
"If I could have an ID that listed my gender as ‘artist,’ I would be happy"
La Chola also self-identifies as a “brown artist,” a term she has developed to explore identity within the Argentine context. “Argentine art is very centralized and always focused on what happens in Europe. I am interested in viewing Argentine history from another place,” she explains. This perspective is central to her work, which seeks to honor her Bolivian family roots and reflect on what it means to be part of a territory shaped by multiple cultural influences.
When asked about her family, La Chola shares that she grew up in a matriarchy. “My family is a matriarchy; I was raised by my grandmother, my mother, and six aunts, all single.” This family dynamic has influenced her worldview and her art.
"My family is a matriarchy; I was raised by my grandmother, my mother, and six aunts, all single"
Mendoza is a place with strong cultural contrasts. How does this context inspire your work?
In Mendoza, particularly in Guaymallén, there’s a large community of Bolivian origin. There, I met artists with a strong political focus in their work, which made me realize I needed to do performance, to speak about my brown identity and its political implications.
What place does Mendoza hold for you?
Even though I had to move to Buenos Aires to grow, I love Mendoza! The mountains have a way of keeping you distant, as if they don’t allow you to fully integrate—they’re jealous. Mendoza is where I cultivated my questions about art, such as: What is art? What does it mean to be an artist? And with these questions, my desire to create.
In 2023, she received the 2023 Artist of the Year award from Deutsche Bank, which she defines as “a reverse conquest.” She adds, “It was an opportunity to expand and open a door to a generation of artists who address the same themes as I do.” This recognition was not only a personal achievement but also an opportunity to share her vision of the country and bring visibility to other artists.
"The award was a chance to expand and open a door to a generation of artists who address the same themes as I do"
In her works, one can see images of the Pope and the Virgin, religious symbols, Mendoza emblems, football logos, and more. These elements reflect her personal life but also form her own campaign for change. La Chola asserts that “activism doesn’t just happen in the streets; it’s also necessary to conquer other spaces.”
Her art goes beyond aesthetics, becoming a means to address social and political issues. “I’m interested in sitting at tables where I can bring tension to certain issues, even in places where they might not be well received,” she says, demonstrating her commitment to challenging norms and opening dialogues.
"Her art becomes a means to address social and political issues"
Her rise to fame began at ARTEBA in 2017, where she presented a striking performance titled “American Beauty.” In it, she stomped on a spread of packaged potato chips while dressed in formal attire. “It was a challenge,” she recalls. This performance was a turning point, allowing her to showcase her work to a wider audience.
This year, you were selected to participate in the Venice Biennale. What did it mean for you to represent Argentina and the artistic community of Mendoza?
I never imagined it, although I always wanted it. But I didn’t think it would happen at this age, with so many other artists in the scene. At the same time, I felt a lot of pressure to live up to it.
The artist also shares her vision of contemporary art. “For me, art has changed. At first, my concerns were about form and the visual aspects of art. But now I find myself in a world that involves a market—that is, the sale of artworks.” She acknowledges the tension between artistic expression and commercialization, and how this affects her work and creativity.
What has the process of becoming La Chola as an artistic figure taught you?
I am still discovering it.