Carmen Valenzuela Ch.

b. 1995, Guatemala | Lives and works in Antigua Guatemala

Carmen Valenzuela Ch. is a Guatemalan visual artist and researcher. Her practice explores the relationships between matter, ecology, and forms of coexistence beyond extractivism. Through experimentation with biomaterials, natural fibers, and traditional dyes, she investigates how processes of transformation, repair, and regeneration can become ways of thinking about and relating to the world.

She works primarily with eggshell bioceramics, natural fibers, and pigments such as indigo, cochineal, and palo de vida. Her process begins with the collection, transformation, and reformulation of materials, approaching making as a practice of attention, care, and reciprocity. From this perspective, matter is not a passive support but an active participant in research and meaning-making.

She holds a degree in Industrial Design, an M.A. in Design for Change from the University of Edinburgh, and an MSc. in Green Economy from Bournemouth University. Her work has been presented in Guatemala, El Salvador, Slovakia, and New York, including the Creative Climate Awards by the Human Impacts Institute, where she was selected as an Artivism Fellow in 2024. In 2026, she received third place at Galería Abierta by the Centro Cultural Municipal in Guatemala City.

Solo Exhibions

Impending Shift: a glance to exploration, Fragmentum Gallery, Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala

2025

S.O.S Vetiver, Palacio de los Capitanes, Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala (Duo exhibition) - Sponsored by Carlos F. Novella Foundation

2020

Collective Exhibions

2026

Upcycling Art Guatemala, Rotary club Reforma. Alianza Francesa Guatemala, Guatemala City

Colectiva Julio-Agosto 2026, Fundación Rozas-Botran, Guatemala City

Arte en Mayo 2026, Fundación Rozas-Botran, Guatemala City

Galería abierta, Centro Cultural Municipal, Guatemala City. 

Liminal Sensitivo : Tonalidades Transitorias, Fragmentum Gallery & Olga Reiche (Indigo), Antigua Guatemala

Weave the Wave: Material Agencies in motion, FX Gallery and the Central Slovak Gallery, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia

2025

Pequeño formato, Museo Forma, San Salvador, El Salvador

Curated Collection, Fragmentum Gallery, Antigua Guatemala - Side event Guatemalan Art Bienal (BAP24)

2024

Creative Climate Awards, Human Impact Insitute (HII), Dumbo, New York

Education

2025 - Diploma in New Economies - Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina

2022 - MSc. in Green Economy - Bournemouth University, UK

2020 - M.A. in Design for Change - The University of Edinburgh, UK

2018 - Licentiate degree in Industrial Design - Universidad Rafael Landivar, Guatemala

2009-2015 - Oil painting - Galeria Rios, Guatemala

Residencies. Fellowships & Awards

2024 - Fellow - Artivism & Amplifiers Program – Human Impacts Institute, NYC

2026 - Residency - Art and resistance at La Revuelta arte - Guatemala City.

2026 -Third place - Galería Abierta by El Centro Cultural Municipal - Guatemala City.

2020 - Finalist – Iberoamerican Design Biennale – Madrid, Spain

Publications

2025

Igniting the Impending Shift (artist’s book) - Editorial Peluma, Guatemala

Explorando lo Posible: Cinco Educadores Centroamericanos Integran Cambio Inminente a sus Espacios Académicos de Diseño - Magazine Cosecha #4, Plataforma de Introducción a las Nuevas Economías, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina

Press

2025

Selected Professional Experience

Founder of Hablemos de Futuros (climate innovation studio)
2021 – Present - hablemosdefuturos.eco

Developing accredited Carbon Literacy courses and co-creating environmental educational tools with rural communities.

Co-founder & Design Lead of VCH Studio
2017 – Present - vchstudio.com

Delivering design projects for UNICEF, UNDP, Clinton Health Access Initiative,Transform Health, other third sector organisations focusing on sustainability and social impact.

Lecturer in Design and Sustainability and Service Design
2020 – Present - Universidad Rafael Landívar (Guatemala) & Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas (El Salvador)

Curriculum design of multiple courses, for undergrad and postgrad, that integrates sustainability, systems, behavioral economics, and green transition into design programs.