Changarrito Residency: Marcela Homrich

About the Artist

I was born in the south of Brazil in a city called Porto Alegre, close to the border with Argentina, and I have German and Native Brazilian heritage. I grew up in an artsy environment – my mom is an art teacher and sculptor – and in my family any creative activity was encouraged, including reading, drawing and even painting on the walls. Creating things with my hands was always the way to connect with my
inner self. From all the materials I used to play with my favorite were paper and yarn. I enjoyed making paper dolls, sculptures and crochet. I graduated in Communications and started working as a graphic designer. I had some jobs as a web designer but soon realized that having a traditional career as an employee of a company was not the best fit for me. I would get home and start drawing as my creative outlet; one day I just had this spark that I could use them on stationery products because it was always so hard for me to find something that would be different from what was sold as mainstream stationery – something that I could identify myself with. I started my first stationery business in 2005 designing greeting cards and art prints in Brazil. In 2011 I got married and moved from Sao Paulo to the United States. With my first child on the way and a lot to learn about a new culture I then decided to slowly phase out by business in Brazil and focus solely on the US market. I created an
online store in 2012 and in 2020 I realized my dream of having a brick-and-mortar store/studio. My background is in graphic design but my practice at the studio right now is more art-focused. I still enjoy designing products but over the last 5 years I’ve felt more drawn to making art. It gives me more creative freedom and it feels closer to what I want to express now. My focus is on textile arts but I still like to explore other materials like paper and clay.

Artist Statement

I come from a background in product design, where function and problem-solving shaped the way I think visually. Over time, my focus has shifted to creating art as a space for emotion, intuition, and personal narrative. My current work explores abstract ideas that follow my curiosity. I enjoy experimenting with materials like wool, cotton and paper. Moving from product design to art has given me a different kind of freedom—one that prioritizes expression over utility.