Bastardilla has been painting since she was a child, moving onto the streets around 2005. The development of Colombia’s graffiti began with the Civil War (1968) when artists wanted to express their frustrations with the political system, the meaninglessness of fighting and other social issues. Ever since, graffiti has remained the main outlet for all the problems plaguing Colombia, serving as a means of poignant commentary on cultural and political concerns. Channeling her thoughts about inequality, Bastardilla’s work is emblematic of this tradition, her monumental art representing a defiant shout back against the violence faced by Latin American women, Indigenous people, and nature. Know more about the artist in: