Meet the artist of SHG’s 2025 Día de los Muertos Commemorative Print: GabBy Claro
The printmaker for Self Help Graphics & Art’s 52nd Annual Día de los Muertos Commemorative Print is Gaby Claro, who first joined SHG through the 2015 SOY Artista summer youth program and later became a teaching artist with our Barrio Mobile Art Studio (BMAS). Today, she serves as Studio Assistant to Lead Printer Dewey Tafoya.
As an artist raised in South Central LA, Claro focuses primarily on community, social consciousness and women’s rights. Using mediums like paintings, screen prints and beadwork, Claro pays homage to the communities that have nurtured and helped her growth.
Claro’s Commemorative Print is dedicated to Amanda Torres, also known as “Dandy Mandi”, who was an inspiring cultural worker, poet, community builder, and activist. Mandi was tragically killed on January 26, 2025 in Downtown LA’s Fashion District after defending her brother at a fight at an afterhours warehouse party. This cut short a brilliant young life - having recently graduated from UCLA, Mandi was working towards accomplishing her professional goals while also serving the community. Her loved ones remember her for her radiant presence and generous spirit—always helping those in need. She was active in pro-Palestine protests and, shortly before her death, helped feed the fire department during the Pacific Palisades and Altadena wildfires.
Before and during college, Mandi used her gifts to empower others and build community. She developed a devoted following on social media by promoting agency, growth, empowerment, and self-love, and co-led Let’s Give, a grassroots organization that mobilized collective action such as feeding unhoused neighbors. She was also a cultural organizer, hosting events like Night of the Blaxican and engaging in student organizing and mentoring. Through her work with MEChA, UCLA’s honors program, and creative writing instruction for high school and incarcerated youth, Mandi modeled transformative justice and compassion in action.
In this interview with SHG’s Communications Coordinator Jeny Amaya, which has been condensed and edited, Gabby Claro shares her growth as a printmaker, the process of making her commemorative print, and more.
JENY AMAYA
To start off, can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your journey into printmaking?
GABBY CLARO
I kind of grew up being interested in art, like everybody that comes into the SHG space [is]. I had never heard of screen printing until Dewey’s week teaching SOY Artista. After the first class, I loved it, and I went every single day for all five weeks. They couldn't get rid of me. When I finished the program, the director reached out and asked me if I wanted to be a part of the Barrio Mobile Art Studio. I said yes and I went in to get trained through a one on one with Dewey, where he walked me through the whole process.
I started working for BMAS and gaining confidence. It was such a good learning experience because I would dabble in everything and have different projects to be busy with.
But even if I wasn't working, the studio space was so helpful for me, especially because I had trouble asking for space. So for it to be provided for me, that helped me a lot artistically.
JENY AMAYA
What drew you to the medium of printmaking and how has it shaped the way you express your ideas?
GABBY CLARO
As a new medium, seeing the process was mesmerizing. I grew up being really shy and awkward, so designing shirts and other merchandise was a way for me to make slogans about topics that I cared about.
Being around the SHG building, there are so many people walking in and out of the place. Sometimes, I start to think “Everything's been done already”, and then I see somebody else walk in and create and I'm like, “Why didn't I think of that?” People in my community are so creative, [and] I take a lot from it.
This print is very Yreina Cervantes. She's my favorite. I remember my high school teacher telling me not to use glitter because it was tacky, but I love glitter. And then I saw Yreina Cervantes [use hand poured glitter in her] prints, and I was really drawn to her work.
JENY AMAYA
Can you tell me more about the piece you created for this year's Dia de los Muertos Commemorative Print?
GABBY CLARO
With this print, I tried to cover heavy topics. My subject is Mandi, who was killed two weeks before I was asked to make the print, so it was still very fresh. Her passing weighed really heavily on me, [particularly] the way that she passed.
Once I thought of the design of the print, I was really set on it. I just really wanted to honor her.
I was previously part of a collective called Ni Santas, who used to meet at SHG and organize art workshops with artists and collective members for women. At the time, we were organizing our two year fundraiser and I was in charge of reaching out to vendors or performers. I reached out to Mandi and asked if she wanted to recite her poetry. She didn't even know me, but she said yes. She showed up. She stayed at the event, and she danced. We kind of just stayed Instagram friends. At the time, around 2017, I had a t-shirt website and she ordered a t-shirt with the slogan “Antes muerta que vencida” (Rather dead than defeated). I have one blurry screenshot of her [wearing it] in her Instagram Story. I just felt like the slogan on the shirt really encapsulated who she was, as she literally died defending her brother.
We were mutual friends on Instagram but I lost contact with her after she deactivated her account. I always wondered where she was. The first conversation I had with SHG’s Finance and Development Coordinator Madison Quiroz was actually about Mandi. Madison was like, “That was my roommate [at UCLA]. I don't know where she is, she kind of fell off the face of the earth for some of us.” Mandi had a huge following on Instagram and it was so interesting to see all the work she was doing. It was refreshing to me that her work was not performative. She was so passionate about their community and showing up. She was such a strong figure.
“I kind of grew up being interested in art, like everybody that comes into the SHG space [is]. I had never heard of screen printing until Dewey’s week teaching SOY Artista. After the first class, I loved it, and I went every single day for all five weeks. They couldn’t get rid of me. ”
“Antes muerta que vencida” (Rather dead than defeated). | Gabby Claro wearing the t-shirt design she created in 2017.
“With this print, I tried to cover heavy topics. My subject is Mandi, who was killed two weeks before I was asked to make the print, so it was still very fresh. Her passing weighed really heavily on me, [particularly] the way that she passed. Once I thought of the design of the print, I was really set on it. I just really wanted to honor her.”
JENY AMAYA
What was it like being selected to make this year's commemorative print? Can you walk us through the process of the print from beginning to end? How was it working with Dewey?
GABBY CLARO
Marvella Muro, SHG’s former Director of Artistic, Curatorial & Educational Programs, approached me in mid-March. She was just like, “I need to talk to you”, and so we went to the back. Of course, I think I did something wrong; I thought I heard her wrong, but then I realized that I didn't, and I started crying. It's a really big deal!
I was shocked that they trusted me with the project. I think I had a little over two months, a little over one month to think of my design and sit with it. It's helpful being in the space because I would sketch something and get feedback.
I'm really indecisive, but also insecure. I want to see what people think I should move around or change. [So] I did it digitally. Every time the artist comes into the studio, it's so refreshing to see them do something hand-drawn. I felt so much pressure that I wanted to have something that was ready to present as soon as my week started at the studio.
I worked with Dewey every day in the studio, as I'm his assistant. He's been my mentor since I came into the space. He also gave me a lot of liberty and support with [the project].
I knew I wanted to add glitter to the print since before I had the design finished. At one point, I was going to use three different types of glitter. He was like, yeah, you're gonna want three different layers of glitter.
At one point I had 14 colors, but I condensed it and it ended up being one color glitter. Dewey even came up with a different technique, making it easier to add glitter. He was really open and supportive throughout the whole process, as I think he just wanted to give me the space to really love this print and enjoy the experience. Being in the studio is really special, so I'm really grateful.
Gabby Claro adding glitter to the print.
“I wanted to capture Mandy’s essence and she was so darks, gothy, and had a really strong connection to bats and that whole aesthetic. I knew I didn’t want to make a colorful print. I wanted to keep the color really minimal. The whole lipstick idea, I drew from Esther Hernandez’s recent Pachucxs Revisted print. I met with her during the process of making the print. ”
JENY AMAYA
Can you tell me more about the feelings or messages that you want to convey through the print?
GABBY CLARO
I wanted to capture Mandy's essence and she was so darks, gothy, and had a really strong connection to bats and that whole aesthetic. I knew I didn't want to make a colorful print. I wanted to keep the color really minimal. The whole lipstick idea, I drew from Esther Hernandez's recent Pachucxs Revisted print. I met with her during the process of making the print. I asked for her advice on the layout of the print and the lipstick color. I went back and forth with it, and Dewey was so patient with me because I kept changing the lipstick color - like six times. He had to keep cleaning the screen. I wanted to encapsulate how I remembered Mandi because over the course of these past couple of years, [I felt like] I didn't really know her anymore.
I was getting questions about the bats but that was her thing, as she knew the symbolism of it. They could also be a symbol of migration. We always use monarchs, but she’s darks, so, of course, I used bats.
She was really glamorous. Apart from being an activist and an active community member, she was also a fashion icon. I wanted to capture her glamour as well.
“I tried to highlight several things through the print. I added “Ni Una Mas” (Not One More) to the frame and “Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women” to honor women taken at the hands of violence.
I tried my best to honor her and keep her memory alive. If somebody comes across it, somebody that doesn’t know her, hopefully they take the time to remember her. ”
Gabby Claro face painting for SHG’s 2024 Dia de los Muertos celebration.
JENY AMAYA
Can you tell me a little bit about what Day of the Dead means to you?
GABBY CLARO
We've always celebrated Day of the Dead at home, but we never made an altar while growing up. Traditionally, my mom would always light a candle and say the name of the relative that we knew had passed. She would place all the candles on a cross and we would sit outside and wait for them to finish burning out. We would spend time, and have coffee.
It's usually done at night when everybody is home but I had never celebrated it to the capacity that I do now. It's always been really important to me. I only have one living grandparent now. We’ve always set aside that day to intentionally honor them. Now we make an altar, and my tias come over for dinner.
JENY AMAYA
How do you feel this artwork engages with the tradition of the Day of the Dead?
GABBY CLARO
I tried to highlight several things through the print. I added “Ni Una Mas” (Not One More) to the frame and “Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women” to honor women taken at the hands of violence.
I tried my best to honor her and keep her memory alive. If somebody comes across it, somebody that doesn't know her, hopefully they take the time to remember her.
Throughout the frame, I hid little symbols and Easter eggs that connect with me, such as my grandpa's home address in Mexico. I took the time to think of symbolism throughout the print. It's kind of like an offering, in the same way that an altar would be to me. I tried to be really intentional with what was going into it.
JENY AMAYA
When viewers encounter your work, especially this print, what do you hope they take away from it?
GABBY CLARO
I want her to be remembered. Sometimes I kind of wrap my head around it because I'm like, “Damn, she was just like a normal girl”, you know? Sometimes we think of these things like they're just not going to happen, but they are. Violence against women is still very present and it's still happening way too often. I’m trying to bring awareness; even if people don't know about these movements, it could just be a way to learn about them.
With Mandi’s life being taken, we lost another community member that was really active and passionate about social justice. When Madison first stepped into her role here at Self Help, we both knew Amanda and Madison were later really affected by this. It's just a mental toll on the community to reflect on the way that she was taken.
JENY AMAYA
Has creating this print changed or deepened your relationship to Dia de los Muertos?
GABBY CLARO
I've always loved Day of the Dead, but this experience forced me to be really intentional and strategic about what I wanted to add to the print. During the process of this print, I reached out to her family to get their approval and approach it with their blessing. It was an added pressure to represent her the right way, in a way that she would have wanted to to be represented. [Her and I] have really similar aesthetics, so I hope that I was able to actually convey that.
JENY AMAYA
Can you tell me how art, specifically printmaking, can uniquely contribute to the way we honor memory loss and life?
GABBY CLARO
It kind of is like an offering. A lot of my work is centered around my ancestors, past loved ones. It's a way for me to honor them through what I'm creating. I’m really grateful, as I know it's a really big deal. I'm really grateful to Marvella and am really happy that she trusted me with this. It's a really big honor. A really big pressure, but I hope it was decent.