ABOUT

Cristina Ayala’s work initiates from the process of change. ‘I have always been interested in emotions that surge in life when dealing with ‘ends’ and with ‘new beginnings’, and the struggle between these feelings - which can come from a place of love or a place of fear,” says Ayala. Ayala works with fibers using techniques that generate a cultural connection with her country and her roots. In Ayala’s pieces, she tends to show fibers pushing themselves through, in what seems to be an effort to be seen.

The current series is about nostalgia, specifically about the memories that she carries of something that no longer exists. The year of the pandemic brought a new meaning to living away from home; “I realized that I can let go and I can grow, while still carrying with me a “perfect” memory,” says Ayala. The objective of Ayala’s work is to highlight the struggle of facing change, as well as understanding the value of it.

Cristina Ayala is a Dallas-based artist and designer. Originally from Monterrey, Mexico, Cristina earned her Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design from Universidad de Monterrey, with a minor in Fashion Design. After working with several advertising agencies, Cristina co-founded a design studio with her sister in 2010. That same year she moved to Dallas, where she took design classes at The Art Institute of Dallas, and completed a certificate program at SMU. In 2013, Cristina moved to the East Coast with her family. She began learning and practicing textile techniques in NYC then moved back to Dallas in 2015, where she currently lives with her family.

In 2020, Cristina shifted her focus to her art practice and began showing work locally through spaces such as Bath House Cultural Center, South Dallas Cultural Center, and The Other Art Fair. In 2023, she was part of Cohort 4 at The Cedars Union art incubator program, during this time she exhibited at Carillon Gallery, Arts Fort Worth, Artspace III, and SPACE at Adolphus Tower.

Cristina currently works as a Communications Manager at a contemporary art gallery, and is part of the McDermott Fellowship of Junior Associates at the Dallas Museum of Art. She has implemented art activities for families as a guest artist on different events at the Nasher Sculpture Center. Drawing inspiration from her Mexican heritage, Cristina’s work is characterized by a vibrant fusion of traditional techniques and contemporary design. Through the use of natural fibers and intuitive weaving, Cristina creates pieces that evoke a sense of nostalgia and celebrate the rich tapestry of Mexican culture.