Latina artist leaves her mark one brush stroke at a time

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Latinos across generations have expressed their creativity through different mediums. Muralist Courtney Enriquez embodies this principle. She said her art has always been more than just paint on a wall — it's a way for her to preserve history, spark joy, and speak truth, especially when words fall short.

"I’m a born and raised Austinite, and you can find my work in a lot of places," Enriquez said.

How it all began

Enriquez got her start in the professional muralist space in 1997 when she was asked to commission a piece for 'Arts in Public Places.'

"With that commission, I was able to buy a home for my boys and my family at that time, which was kind of the jumpstart for me,” she said.

With support from the Austin community and a deep connection to her roots, Enriquez's journey began to take flight. She credits both her grandmother and mother for always nurturing her creativity and giving her the push she needed.

“My mother was a very active community member here in Austin,” she said. “She always encouraged me to do my work, you know, do what I love to do... always taught me to give back to the community with whatever I did.”

The footprints she's left behind

Giving back like her grandmother and mother once did has stuck with Enriquez, and it shows throughout her work. Some of her greatest murals can be found at the east Austin restaurant Juan in a Million and the Dove Springs Recreation Center. Her art often draws from Mexican traditions, especially the iconic imagery of Lotería — a game she’s reimagined through jewelry, fabric, and upcycled crafts.

"I'm also known as the Loteria lady because I do a lot of different arts or crafts or upscale or upcycle things to do with Loteria," Enriquez said. "It's very historical, it's over 100-years-old... Our families will sit around tables during holidays and play Loteria. It's a great thing to do to bring people together."

Her vibrant style reflects the richness of Mexican culture, blending Otomí patterns, folkloric symbols, and personal storytelling. She said she enjoys bringing the vibrant colors you would see in Mexico to her art.

“Life is colorful. You can either see the very bad parts of it or you can choose to see the good parts," she said.

Obstacles that have come with the journey

Enriquez said although her work is meant to spark joy and speak truth, not all her work has been universally embraced with open arms. She recalled her first mural proposal for the Dove Springs commission that was initially rejected.

"Art is very personal, it comes from within, and it's your perception or way of thinking. At that time, the Dove Springs area was heavy, and the city was having a lot of issues with gangs," Enriquez said. "With the story that I told, they felt like I was glorifying gangs, but I was actually telling a story of people breaking out of those things that held them back from becoming who they really wanted to be."

Even if her initial sketch was not approved, her resilience and her belief in her art as a tool for healing and activism always came forward.

Her voice and impact

“We definitely speak with our art,” Enriquez said. “Through art, through music, through prayer... I believe that we do make a difference. We are strength as Latinos.”

Enriquez hopes to continue expanding her reach, with upcoming shows in San Marcos and aspirations to exhibit at the Mexic-Arte Museum.

“I would love to be statewide and then to be known nationally,” she said. “I don’t know how long I’ll be here, but I know that I’ll continue painting because it is my passion and my love.”

As Hispanic Heritage Month continues, Enriquez’s story is a reminder of how Latinos have long used creativity to fight for their rights, leave a mark on their hometowns, and preserve culture — one brushstroke at a time.