Ximena Berlín
Artist Bio
Ximena Berlín was born on February 22, 1905 in Mexico City. Her father left them when her mother was pregnant, so she grew up with just her mother. Ximena’s art was abstract. She had a big imagination and used art as an outlet to let it all out. Growing up, Ximena was not wealthy and she had to help her mother make more income. She would go to school and work a part-time job at a nearby restaurant. She would paint in her free time to ease her mind. Nobody knew that she would draw, except for her mother. Her mother would encourage her to show her work, but she was too shy to let others see. She didn’t think it was worthy enough. As Ximena got older she started to have complications. She ended up passing away from a heart attack at a young age, she was only 20 years old. After her passing, her mother wanted to keep her presence alive and started to show people her paintings that she would keep hidden. She became well known and people started to buy her painting. She inspired many others to show their talents and not keep them hidden. They saw how much the people were supporting her work, they wanted to be supported as well.
Interview With Ximena’s Mom
What was Ximena’s childhood like?
Mom: It wasn’t easy, we had a rough time. It was just me and her. Her father left when I was pregnant and wanted nothing to do with us, he didn’t want to be a family. She worked to help me pay bills and keep food on our table. Ximena was a very happy little girl through it all. She always made everyone laugh and smile, her happiness was very contagious. She did very well in school, had straight A’s. She was just overall a beautiful soul.
Why did she keep her art a secret ?
Mom: I don’t exactly know why but her art was so beautiful and I wish she would have shown it to others. I would encourage her too, but she was too shy to show it to others. I didn’t understand why she was shy about her art work because she’s such a social butterfly.
Why did she choose to do abstract art ?
Mom: I had asked her the same question a while ago and she told me because she wants others to make of it what they want, it’s not just one thing. She had a very creative mind and it was always going, non-stop. I think she picked it because since her mind was always going, she wanted others to think like her and try to make out as many things of her drawings as possible.
What inspired her to start drawing ?
Mom: I don’t exactly know. One day she came up to me and asked if we could go to the store nearby to get some supplies. I believe that she got inspired by the art that’s all over the walls here in Mexico, she wanted to be like those artists. She wanted to inspire others and have a voice like those artists in her city. She told me she drew to keep her inner child alive.
What was Ximena’s childhood like?
Mom: It wasn’t easy, we had a rough time. It was just me and her. Her father left when I was pregnant and wanted nothing to do with us, he didn’t want to be a family. She worked to help me pay bills and keep food on our table. Ximena was a very happy little girl through it all. She always made everyone laugh and smile, her happiness was very contagious. She did very well in school, had straight A’s. She was just overall a beautiful soul.
Why did she keep her art a secret ?
Mom: I don’t exactly know why but her art was so beautiful and I wish she would have shown it to others. I would encourage her too, but she was too shy to show it to others. I didn’t understand why she was shy about her art work because she’s such a social butterfly.
Why did she choose to do abstract art ?
Mom: I had asked her the same question a while ago and she told me because she wants others to make of it what they want, it’s not just one thing. She had a very creative mind and it was always going, non-stop. I think she picked it because since her mind was always going, she wanted others to think like her and try to make out as many things of her drawings as possible.
What inspired her to start drawing ?
Mom: I don’t exactly know. One day she came up to me and asked if we could go to the store nearby to get some supplies. I believe that she got inspired by the art that’s all over the walls here in Mexico, she wanted to be like those artists. She wanted to inspire others and have a voice like those artists in her city. She told me she drew to keep her inner child alive.
Artist Analysis
Ximena Berlín was born on February 22nd in 1905 in Mexico City. She was raised there as well. In her childhood, it was just her and her mom. Her father left them when her mother was pregnant with her. He didn’t want to take the responsibility of a child. Her mom has worked multiple jobs her whole life to keep a roof over their heads and food on their table. Ximena at one point had to get a job to help her mother pay the bills. They helped each other and had a very tight relationship.
Ximena was always very outgoing and always had a creative mind. She became interested in art in middle school. She got inspired by all the art on the walls of her city. There was art everywhere and it all stood for something. She wanted to be like them and have a voice, she wanted to be someone in life. Unfortunately, her shyness held her back from achieving those dreams. At first she didn’t know what type of art she was going for, so she just started drawing. You make of it what you want. Since her mind was always going, she wanted her art to always have people thinking as well.
In her drawings you can see that it’s very childlike. All her drawings are very creative and colorful. She always wanted it to be fun and to bring the inner child out of others. She was a very happy little girl and you can see that in her drawings. She wanted her art to inspire others and to let other people know to enjoy life, to not grow up so fast. She wanted to keep that inner child alive because that was the best time of her life.
Ximena Berlín was born on February 22nd in 1905 in Mexico City. She was raised there as well. In her childhood, it was just her and her mom. Her father left them when her mother was pregnant with her. He didn’t want to take the responsibility of a child. Her mom has worked multiple jobs her whole life to keep a roof over their heads and food on their table. Ximena at one point had to get a job to help her mother pay the bills. They helped each other and had a very tight relationship.
Ximena was always very outgoing and always had a creative mind. She became interested in art in middle school. She got inspired by all the art on the walls of her city. There was art everywhere and it all stood for something. She wanted to be like them and have a voice, she wanted to be someone in life. Unfortunately, her shyness held her back from achieving those dreams. At first she didn’t know what type of art she was going for, so she just started drawing. You make of it what you want. Since her mind was always going, she wanted her art to always have people thinking as well.
In her drawings you can see that it’s very childlike. All her drawings are very creative and colorful. She always wanted it to be fun and to bring the inner child out of others. She was a very happy little girl and you can see that in her drawings. She wanted her art to inspire others and to let other people know to enjoy life, to not grow up so fast. She wanted to keep that inner child alive because that was the best time of her life.