Craft and Self-Discovery: Inside “The Art of Being” Exhibition

The vibrant rug hooking and embroidery in Multicolores's current exhibit, The Art of Being, tell stories of community, creativity, and strength. This new exhibit is deeply moving—not just because of the beautiful rug-hooked and embroidered self-portraits, but also because each piece is layered with meaning, memory, and transformation.

Embracing Becoming

At its heart, this exhibit is about journeys: intimate, personal, and profound. The artists behind these works are navigating paths of self-discovery. Through every stitch, every color, they reflect on their past, hold space for the present, and imagine the person they hope to become.

The dozens of self-portraits exhibited in The Art of Being grew out of Multicolores’ holistic well-being approach that offers artistic skills and creativity workshops with integrated mental health support. The very act of creating self-portraits is a healing practice: a way to build self-esteem, reshape identity, and narrate new stories.

Rug-hooked and embroidered self-portraits hang in the Multicolores gallery in Panajachel, Guatemala.

Portraits of Healing, Portraits of Hope

The exhibit includes photographs of each artist, their story of inspiration for their portrait, and detailed photos of their work. Meet individual artists in three heartwarming videos where the Maya women share their personal stories.

Micaela Churunel Ajú calls her self-portrait “Nectar of Harmony.” She wanted to capture the Maya reverence for the hummingbird as divine messenger and her deep connection with that tradition: “Today, I live with the certainty that, like the hummingbird, I can face storms while pausing to drink the nectar of life and cherish the fact that I am alive.”

“A New Life,” the self-portrait of Julia Mercedes Vicente Yac, tells a story of a life transformed: “The colors in the rug I hold are not just decoration; they are symbols of how I feel now. They speak of joy, of peace, and of a heart that has come through difficulty with greater clarity and gratitude. Each thread holds part of my healing, part of my hope.”

Marta Sulema Elizabet Socón Sacuj de Solís names her piece “Joy, Peace, and Tranquility” and draws on her traditional clothing as a source of identity: "Every thread, every design speaks to who I am: my joy, creativity, strength, and vitality.”

A Path Built with Compassion

One of the most touching themes of the exhibit is how these portraits are not just about self-awareness, but also about self-acceptance. The members of Multicolores describe the collection as “a celebration of being—a reminder that knowing and accepting oneself is a path built with love, resilience, and compassion.” The Art of Being is a testament to the power of art to support mental health, empower voices, and build community.

Stories We Carry

In a world that so often prioritizes productivity or external achievement, this exhibit stands as a quiet but powerful counterpoint. It asks us to slow down and consider: Who are we beneath the surface? What stories do we carry? What would it mean to truly celebrate the process of becoming? For the artists, the act of making is transformative. For the viewer, bearing witness feels like a gift: an invitation into someone’s lived experience, and a reminder of our shared experience. Embroidery artists from the nonprofit Multicolores show their self-portraits in process.

The Art of Being is on view in the Multicolores gallery in Panajachel, Guatemala, through February 10, 2026, and online. Learn more about this remarkable nonprofit association at Multicolores.

To meet Mary Anne Wise, the co-founder of Multicolores, tune in to the Long Thread Podcast and listen to her interview with Anne Merrow.

Read the first installment of "A Place to Come To."

Enjoy your visit to Guatemala,

Karen