Latino Arts Festival 2026: A Community Talavera Tile Project Led by Miriam Gutierrez
The Latino Arts Festival returns June 12–14, 2026, at Canyons Village Forum, bringing a vibrant, multi-day celebration of Latino Arts & Culture to Park City. Featuring live performances, visual arts, World Cup soccer screenings, and culinary experiences, the festival highlights both local and international artists while fostering cultural connection and community engagement.
Miriam Gutierrez- Latino Arts Youth Program Coordinator
At the heart of this year’s festival is a new community-driven art installation led by Miriam Gutierrez, the Arts Council of Park City & Summit County’s 2026 Latino Arts Youth Program Coordinator. Miriam Gutierrez is a Mexican American artist whose work explores the relationship between nature, culture, and place. Raised in California’s Central Valley and living in Utah since 2009, she works across illustration, pen and ink, wood burning, and large-scale murals.
Known for her highly detailed and textured work, Miriam draws inspiration from close observation of the natural world, flora, fauna, birds, and wildlife, along with her Mexican heritage and travel experiences. Her work invites viewers to slow down, look closer, and find meaning in everyday surroundings.
Beyond her studio practice, Miriam is deeply committed to community-based art. She has painted murals and led workshops that encourage creativity, observation, and connection. Through her role with the Arts Council, she continues this work by creating meaningful, accessible art experiences for youth and the broader community.
In her role with the Arts Council, Miriam leads youth engagement and creative programming. This year, she is spearheading a large-scale Talavera tile project that connects students across Summit County through art, culture, and collaboration.
A hand-painted Talavera Tile
Students from Ecker Hill Middle School, Weilenmann School of Discovery, Park City Library, Holy Cross Ministries, Park City Day School, and Park City High School will each create hand-painted Talavera-inspired tiles. One tile will be kept by the student, while the other will become part of a collective installation unveiled at the festival.
The project blends art education, cultural history, and community participation, giving students the opportunity to learn about Mexican ceramic traditions while contributing to a shared public artwork.
The Talavera tile project is inspired by Miriam’s travels in Puebla, Mexico, where she experienced firsthand the beauty and craftsmanship of this centuries-old art form. Talavera tiles are hand-painted ceramic tiles known for their bold colors, intricate patterns, and detailed designs. Each tile is created through a multi-step process, shaping clay, applying glaze, hand-painting designs, and firing the tile, making every piece entirely unique.
Students participating in the project will explore traditional design elements such as symmetry, floral and geometric patterns, and vibrant color palettes, while creating their own interpretations of this historic craft.
Each contribution becomes part of a larger story. Individual tiles will be assembled into a large-scale installation that showcases the creativity of young artists across the community and highlights the power of collaborative art.
Latino Arts Festival attendees will have the opportunity to view the completed tile installation and take part in a free, hands-on workshop led by Miriam. Participants will learn about the history and cultural significance of Talavera tiles, explore traditional design elements, and create their own tile to take home.
Through this project, Miriam invites the community to connect not only with art but also with culture, tradition, and one another.
