Sept. 10, 2024
The American Art Therapy Association represents a diversity of professionals, students, and organizations across the nation. We recognize and celebrate the work of our members at all levels through our Featured Member series.
In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month 2024, we are profiling Gabriela and other Latino/an art therapists. See their profiles here. You can also watch her CE session, Mexican Huipil-Making and Photoembroidery to Find Connection: Integrating Textiles, Photo and Embroidery in Clinical Practice on AATA’s Online Learning Academy.
What are you most excited about your work as an art therapist?
What have you learned from your clients?
How have you used art to honor your culture or heritage?
I feel that everything I do is connected with my roots, my ancestors and my culture. I have had the opportunity to travel and live in other countries but I still bring to my profession and everywhere I go, my knowledge and the vision of life from my country.
My art, in particular, has everything to do with the woman in my family and generations above me. Embroidery has been, in my family and culture, I way to express and feel free.
Autorretrato 2024
Photoembroidery
Gabriela Osorio
y vuelvo a florecer
Photoembroidery
Gabriela Osorio
How have issues of diversity and social justice impacted your work as an art therapist?
What are your hopes for the future of the art therapy profession?
Is there something you would like to share about your journey thus far as an art therapist?
What keeps you excited about the AATA community?
About Gabriela Osorio Fajardo
Gabriela Osorio Fajardo is a bilingual, creative and eclectic art therapist with more than 20 years of clinical experience. She holds two masters degrees, one in Family Systems in UNIVA in México and the other one in Clinical Art Therapy in Loyola Marymount University.
Gabriela has been teaching for 15 years in different educational levels, up to Masters in the Universidad del Valle de México in Guadalajara, Jalisco. She is also trained as a Montessori guide for children from ages 2 to 6 years old, and teaching creativity and arts for 10 years.
Additionally, Gabriela is a textile artist with an extensive experience and background. She has organized and participated in collective art shows for women in public spaces like “Casona Pardo” in México. She has also trained in Fine Arts with the Emily Carr Institute in Vancouver, Canada, where she met with Canadian art therapists. Active member (15 years) in the American Art Therapy Association in the United States where she has also presented clinical work.
Gabriela currently lives in Zamora, Michoacán, in México where she has her office and works on a project called “Casa Corazón,” which offers art therapy workshops for children, adolescents and adults, among other art workshops like music, painting and embroidery. Gabriela is also the director of the “Open Art therapy Studio ExpresARTE” in San Miguel de Allende in México where she works with adolescents and children since 2019. She is the author of the Art Therapy workbook for children “Manual de Terapia de arte para niños de 6 a 12 años” in Spanish.
Follow Gabriela on Instagram @gabriela.o.fajardo