ARTIST STATEMENT & BIOGRAPHY
"Preserving and celebrating the nuances of our culture is the revolution." -Scarlett Baily.
Scarlett Baily (b.El Paso TX, 1986) is a San Diego based Chicana visual artist specializing in murals, portraits, and illustration.
Working on a large scale and often in public, Baily rescues the stories that political systems and popular media outlets exclude. Her work celebrates cultural nuances with an intent to preserve diversity and resist the homogeneity that globalization proposes. She believes her illustrated wonderlands and participatory art events can spark empathy and bridge communities.
Baily solidified her interests by earning a B.A. in the History of Art and Architecture from the University of California, Santa Barbara. During her studies, Baily worked as a junior curator at the Museum of Art, Architecture, and Design from 2003-2007. Baily's further studies include Avant-Garde Art History at the Universitat de Barcelona, Fine Arts at the Art Students League in New York City, and a fine arts and muralism apprenticeship with celebrated Mexican Artist Manuel Guillén.
Baily's lure to reclaiming the street as an exhibition space began during her time in New York City. Baily developed her public portrait performances within installations of her large-format drawings in alternative spaces. Since then, Baily has exhibited in Mi Vida Logan (SD,CA), You Belong Here (SD,CS) Salon Acme (CDMX), Bushwick Open Studios (NYC), Manhattan Art Summer Thursdays (NYC), New York Fashion Week (NYC), Barrio Vivo Graffiti Festival (CDMX), Central de Muros Mural Project (CDMX), MexiLog Fest (Zihuatanejo, Mexico), Art Week (CDMX), Gallery Weekend (CDMX), and the Viceroy Los Cabos Art Series (Mexico/Virtual).
Baily expanded her studio to Mexico City in 2014 to bridge her Mexican-American roots. Producing between the two countries allows Baily to hone in on her visual dialogue with themes of identity, multiculturalism, and belonging. Baily has given workshops and conferences in various cultural and academic venues such as The Toy Museum (CDMX), Miami Ad School (CDMX), Cine Tonalá (CDMX), Loot Gallery (Zihuatanejo, México), Universidad Anáhuac (Puebla, México), Center for the Industry of Graphic Communication (Bogotá, Colombia), STEAM Academy at La Presa Elementary School (San Diego, CA), and Emory University (Atlanta, GA), among others. Media such as Vogue, Elle, Cosmopolitan, Architectural Digest, Huffington Post, Vice, and El Financiero.
Currently based in San Diego, CA, she explores stories of resilience in her multidisciplinary art practice. While her public art projects respond to their environments, her studio practice delves inward. Through cathartic imagery, she confronts uncomfortable emotions to deconstruct the pseudo-self. From gestural to figurative, her work invites viewers to pause and listen to the heart. Bold colors document grief and challenge reproductive taboos, prompting reflection on how we witness pain and loss (even within ourselves) in an achievement society that values productivity over presence.
Baily's art forms part of collections worldwide, from Madison Avenue, New York City, to the outdoor walls of the largest market in the world Central de Abastos in Mexico City. In 2019 she founded @MujeresMuralistas, a visual archive of woman muralists in Mexico, and belongs to the Mexican Society of Caricature Artists. Baily is currently director of Galería La Óptica - an alternative space exhibiting women artists.
MUY EXTRA LONG CV
ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
2024- Current
San Diego College of Continuing Education, Clothing and Textiles Certificate Program
2024- Current
Kumeyaay Community College, Kumeyaay Studies Program
2021
Ilustre- Art History Focus Course in Baroque Art
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México- Course in Feminisms and Publicity
MOMA NYC- Certificate in Modern Art and Ideas
2012- 2014
The Art Student’s League of New York, USA- Fine Arts with an emphasis in oil painting
2005- 2006
Universitat de Barcelona, Spain- Academic exchange, History of Art and the European Avant-Garde
2003- 2007
University of California, Santa Barbara, USA- B.A. in the History of Art and Architecture with an emphasis in Post-War American Art
1999-2003
Grossmont High School, San Diego, CA
RELEVANT ARTISTIC EXPERIENCE
2020-Current
Assistant Art Curator and Exhibition Designer, Novartis Pharmaceutical, international
2018- Current
Director of Galería La Óptica, international
2014- Current
Director of Drink and Draw (Draw-a-Liscious) Figure drawing sessions in alternative spaces for the public
2018- 2020
Fine Arts Apprenticeship under muralist Manuel Guillén, Mexico City, MX
2008-2014
Art Direction and Window Displays for Donna Karan, DKNY, Ralph Lauren, New York, NY, USA
2009-2011
Director of Cultural Events, Ports 1961, New York, NY, USA
2003-2007
Junior Curator, Museum of Art, Architecture, and Design, University of California, Santa Bárbara, California, USA
2002-2007
Caricature Artist, Kamman’s Art Shoppes, Sea World, San Diego, CA USA
RELEVANT PUBLIC WORKS
2025
Tijuana River Valley Love, 400 ft² at Tijuana River Valley Sustainable Community Farms, National City, CA
2024
Howka, 950 ft² mural at High Tech Explorer Elementary, San Diego, CA
Soaring to Success, 2,500 ft² mural at Washington Elementary, San Diego, CA
Yellow Warbler’s Song, 528 ft² mural at Citrus Villa collaboration with Studio E Architects, San Diego, CA
2023
Abundant Peace, 900 ft² mural at Foster Elementary School, San Diego, CA
Home, 2,500 ft² mural at Liberty Station with the Arts in Public Places Foundation, San Diego, CA
2021
Eclipse de Yenacamu, 868 ft² mural at Me Cabo Hotel Entrance, Cabo San Lucas MX
Xicanas, The Bunkhouse, San Diego, CA
2020
People and Protest & Mujeres Muralistas official mask design for the National Museum of Women in the Arts
2019
Tina Modotti, 145 ft² mural, Barrio Vivo Mural Festival, Optica Llum, Mexico City, MX
Mujeres Muralistas, 50 Portraits of women muralists, Mexico City, MX
2018
Chido, 150 ft² mural, Coach Mural Project, Jardín Pushkin Park, Mexico City, MX
Vértigo, Portrait Performance, Monumento a la Revolución, Mexico City, MX
María Félix: Nos vemos en el Papagayo, 551 ft² mural, Barrio Vivo, Antique Toy Museum, Mexico City, MX
Chams the Magician, 378 ft² Mural, Re-Urbano Architects, Reloj Chino, Mexico City, MX
Migrant Caravan Portraits, Migrant Caravan Shelter at the Ciudad Deportiva, Mexico City, MX
2017
Desnuda Diario, Large format illustrated street interventions, Marfa, TX; New York, NY; Boston, MA; Montreal, Canada; Berlin, Germany; Barcelona, Spain
Los Carretilleros (Dollie Whistlers), 2,366 ft² mural, Central de Muros, Central de Abastos, Mexico City, MX
The Dance, Intervention of Stainboy on Reforma, Tim Burton Exhibition, Museo Franz Mayer, Mexico City, MX
2016
Desnuda Diario, Portraits of 30 real life women in the nude, Mexico City, MX
2015
Seven, Illustrated Street Art Interventions, San Telmo and Palermo, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Nighttime at the Museum, 117 ft² mural, Antique Toy Museum, Mexico City, MX
DF en Color, 30 oil painted portraits of real life models, Mexico City, MX
Queen of México, Illustrated street art installation, Antique Toy Museum, Mexico City, MX
2014
Poster Kids, 30 Large format portraits, NYC, USA
2013
Giant Face a Day, 30 painted portraits of real life models , 35x47” acrylic on paper, New York, NY, USA
INDIVIDUAL EXHIBITIONS
2020
Memories, Galería La Óptica, Mexico City and virtual curated by Francois Paris
2016
Desnuda Diario, Galería Loot, Zihuatanejo, MX curated by Rascha Jenkins
2015
DF en Color, Galería Valentina, Mexico City, MX curated by Tanais Campero
Siete, 180, Mexico City, MX curated by Hannah Flor
2014
Poster Kids, Bushwick Open Studios, Gallery Tutu’s, Brooklyn, New York, NY USA, curated by Lucas Walters
The Hierarchy, Salón Acme, Rich Lane, Brooklyn, New York, NY, USA curated by Alejandro Champion
2013
Giant Face a Day, New York City Summer Art Thursdays, DKNY Madison Avenue & Pulqueria Gallery, New York, NY, USA curated by Chad Oliver
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025
It’s Party Time!, Covet Art Gallery, Oceanside, CA curated by Laurie King
Cloud 9.0, Covet Art Gallery, Oceanside, CA curated by Laurie King
Homegrown Hartbeat, Union Hall Gallery, San Diego, CA curated by Galina Marcus
2024
Cuéntame, The Front Gallery, San Ysidro, CA curated by Yvette Roman & Natalia Ventura
2023
Guerrera, Mi Vida Logan, San Diego, CA curated by Bucky Montero
I Belong, You Belong Here, San Diego, CA curated by Nic Roc and Alejandro Martinez
2020
El Arte Urbano como Mecanismo de Cohesión Social en dos municipios de Puebla y dos de la Ciudad de México, Museo UPAEP Puebla, México, Curated by Josefina Franzoni Lobo
2019
Mujeres Muralistas, Galería La Óptica, Mexico City, MX
Borderline, Galería La Óptica, Mexico City, MX
2018
Morphemia, Ayuntamiento 48, Mexico City, MX curated by Rilke Roca
Indoor Project, Ovalo Galería de Arte, Mexico City, MX curated by Erick Sandoval Hoffman
Fase: Diseño y Moda, Squash 73 Mexico City, MX
1er Muestra Anual de Gráfica Digital, Sophart Mexico City, MX
Tacubaby, Manuel Dublan, Re-Urbano Architects Mexico City, MX curated by Zaruhy Sangochian
2017
Indoor Project, Mooi Collective, Mexico City, MX curated by Erick Sandoval
2016
Rooftop, Mexico City, MX curated by Ana Victoria Calderon
Surf Film Fest, Huerta Roma Mexico City, MX
2015
Art Fair MX, Mexico City, MX
Abruptum, Casa de Arte, Mexico City, MX
Terminal 1, Mexico City, MX
Salón Acme, Mexico City, MX, curated by Alejandro Champion
Casa Paraíso, Guadalajara, MX, curated by Eduardo Cosmíco
2012
Small Small World, Family Business, New York, NY, USA curated by Hennessey Youngman
A Distaster, Ports 1961 Gallery, New York, NY, USA curated by Eddie Parsons
CURATORIAL WORK
2026
GOSSIP, Union Hall Gallery, San Diego, CA
2020
Diosas, Galería La Óptica, Mexico City, MX
2018
Más Por Favor, Galería La Óptica, Mexico City, MX
El Proceso, Galería La Óptica Mexico City, MX
2007, 2005
Art Wars, Santa Bárbara, CA, USA
WORKSHOPS, CONFERENCES AND DOCENT ACTIVITIES
2025
“Connections,” Line Drawing postcard, Workshop, High Tech Explorer Elementary, 1st grade
“Campaigning and Organizing for Change”, Panelist, Claremont Graduate University, CA
2024
“Using the Arts and Internet as Tools for Community Organizing,” Panelist, Claremont Graduate University, CA
“Observation to Creation, How to Paint a Mural,” Workshop, Explorer Elementary, San Diego, CA
“Imagination,” Guest Speaker, Washington Elementary, San Diego, CA
2023
“Figure Drawing,” Workshop, Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego
“Maps and Murals” Collective Mural Workshop, Murdock Elementary, San Diego, CA
2022
“Nashville Art Walk,” Visiting Artist Docent, Nashville, TN
2020
“Self Portrait Workshop,” Virtual Class for the #StayHome Movement / Mexico City, MX
“Creating in Public,” Guest Speaker, High Tech Elementary, Chula Vista, CA, USA
“Pet Portrait Class” PetCo
2019
“Mujeres Muralistas,” Guest Speaker, Emory University, Women’s Studies, Atlanta, GA
“Women in Muralism” Guest Speaker, Festival CIMU, Facultad de Artes y Diseño, UNAM, Mexico City, MX
“Networking Projects,” Guest Speaker, Acacia Cosecha II, El Rule, Mexico City, MX
“Mathematics in Art,” Collective Mural Workshop, Steam Academy at La Presa Elementary, San Diego
“Women in Public Art,”Guest Speaker, Carlos Septién García Journalism School, Mexico City, MX
2018
“Ingenuity,” Guest Speaker , Anáhuac University, Puebla, MX
“Espejo,” Portrait Workshop, Hacienda San Andrés, Estado de México, MX
“Out of Context,” Product Development Workshop, CENIGRAF, Bogotá, Colombia
“Art in the Public Space,” Guest Speaker, The University of Banking and Commerce (EBC), Querétaro, MX
2017
“Tools Workshop,”Miami Ad School Mexico City, MX
2015
“Self Portraits,” Youth Meal Center, Ecatepec, Estado de México, MX
CORPORATE COLLECTIONS
2022
Mujeres Mágicas, 250 ft² mural, Folklorika Corporate Offices, MX
2021
Everything, 220 ft² mural, MIHO Catering, San Diego, CA
2020
El Paraíso de Toci, 260 ft² mural, Novartis Corporate Office, Mexico City, MX
2019
Homage to México: A Bi-Cultural Celebration, 615 ft² mural series, Culture One World, Center for American Progress, Washington, D.C., USA
México es Chingón, 1,200 ft² mural series, Grupo Modelo Corporate Offices, Mexico City, MX
MURAL FESTIVALS
Barrio Vivo, Mural Festival, Museo del Juguete, Mexico City, MX 2019, 2018
MexiLog Fest, Playa Saladita, MX 2018
Surf Film Fest, Huerta Roma, Mexico City, MX 2018, 2017
Central de Muros, Central De Abastos, Mexico City, MX, 2017
Coach Global Mural Project, Mexico City, MX 2017
RESIDENCIES
Culture One World, Center for American Progress, Washington, D.C., USA, 2019
Dance Works, El Paso, TX, USA, 2018
El Ganzo, Los Cabos, MX, 2017
Galería LOOT, Zihuatanejo, MX, 2017
Salón Acme, Mexico City, MX, 2014
GRANTS & AWARDS
Cuéntame, San Ysidro, CA 2024
Art Pratt Foundation, San Diego, CA, 2023
Arts in Public Places NTC, Installations at the Station, San Diego, CA, 2023
RELEVANT PUBLICATIONS AND MEDIA
2026
“Creating a space to gossip with local artists,” San Diego Daylight, feature
https://www.daylightsandiego.org/creating-a-space-to-gossip-with-local-artists/
RELEVANT PUBLICATIONS AND MEDIA (continued)
2025
“How to collaborate on a mural with 200 elementary-schoolers,” Unboxed, podcast, https://hthgse.edu/podcasts/how-to-collaborate-on-a-mural-with-200-elementary-schoolers/
“ Scarlett Baily and her two latest murals through the NTC Foundation,” CBS 8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7A4cJBW4zL8
2024
“How to Become a Muralist and Land Big Public Art Projects – With Scarlett Baily,” In the Art Scene, San Diego Artist Network, Podcast https://sandiegoartistnetwork.com/2025/03/20/s10-e5-how-to-become-a-muralist-and-land-big-public-art-projects-with-scarlett-baily/
“San Diego Muralist brings joy to kids,” San Diego Union Tribune; feature, https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2024/06/15/san-diego-muralist-brings-joy-to-kids-and-her-own-inner-child-in-recent-work-at-little-italy-elementary-school/
2023
“Home, The Newest Installation at the Station Captures Local History and Culture in a Colorful Mural,” OB Monthly, feature
“NTC Unveils new art installation at Arts District in Liberty Station,” CBS 8, in studio feature, https://www.cbs8.com/video/news/local/mornings/ntc-unveils-new-art-installation-at-arts-district-in-liberty-station/509-9868e838-7ec9-4fdb-9f31-edff578e1ceb