Marianna Olague’s work is about living in the borderland desert of El Paso, Texas. Using portraiture to explore what it means to be Mexican American in the 21st century, Olague provides a glimpse into the private lives of Mexican Americans, using her family and close friends as models for her brilliantly hued portraits.
Olague has an MFA in painting from Cranbrook Academy of Art, and a BA from the University of Texas at El Paso. She was the inaugural artist in residence at the Mexican American Cultural Center in El Paso and most recently her work was added to the El Paso Museum of Art’s permanent collection through their member’s choice event.
Marianna is also displaying a piece in the Soy de Tejas show which will be on exhibit at The Cheech in Riverside, California through January 2026.
Originally Broadcast on November 15, 2025