Art as a Bond of Community and Expression: A Conversation with Rocío López from Olivia Foundation
At Espíritu, our mission goes beyond creating traditional and contemporary huaraches. We believe in the importance of community, culture, and human connection through creative expression. That’s why, on our blog, we love to highlight artists, collectives, and projects that share our values of authenticity, collaboration, and passion for the artistic expressions that bring our traditions to life while also inviting us to rethink the present.
This time, we turned our attention to Olivia Foundation and the work of one of its key members, Rocío López. Through her perspective and words, we delve into the essence of this foundation, dedicated to giving voice, space, and visibility to artists—especially women—within Mexico’s contemporary art scene. With a focus that distances itself from institutional rigidity to provide a warmer, more personal environment, Olivia Foundation promotes understanding and aesthetic enjoyment through dialogue, community, and discovery.
Below, we share Rocío’s perspective on her passion for art, the importance of experiential engagement, and the foundation’s role in showcasing both historic and emerging work. Finally, we reflect on how Espíritu aligns with this vision and why continuing to support efforts that elevate art and culture is so essential.
The Beginnings of a Passion for Art
“I’ve been obsessed with art all my life,” confesses Rocío López at the start of our conversation. This statement, filled with enthusiasm, suggests that her relationship with art is no fleeting affair, but rather a deep bond that has accompanied her throughout her life. From a very young age, Rocío was drawn to the nuances, textures, stories, and emotions sparked by artistic works.
For Rocío, art isn’t just an inert object viewed in a museum; it’s a living, ever-changing force that constantly challenges our perceptions and invites us to explore new worlds. Discovering projects like Olivia Foundation was, for her, a natural step: the opportunity to work in a space where diverse expressions come together, the majority of them by women artists, many dedicated to abstract art and the rescue of historical pieces created from the 1940s onward.
Alongside her personal passion, Rocío also feels motivated by the possibility of making a real impact on the art scene and on the people who visit the exhibitions. Instead of a hostile or distant venue, Olivia Foundation’s mission is to offer a space free of rigidity, where people can relax, embrace the experience, and, above all, connect with the artworks.
A Warm and Inviting Space
Olivia Foundation distinguishes itself from the typical institutional atmosphere. In Rocío’s words, the cultural vibe aims to create a “warm, cozy” environment that encourages people to break away from their routines and find beauty in everyday life.
Behind this vision, Rocío explains, is the notion that art should feel approachable, accessible, and vibrant. Typically, traditional museums, foundations, or galleries can feel cold, too formal, or intimidating to a non-specialized audience. In contrast, Olivia Foundation seeks to break down those barriers by designing an immersive and intimate experience.
This closeness is reflected in how the foundation’s team welcomes visitors: with a smile, with patience to explain the context, and with the openness to listen to whatever impressions each person wants to share. Such openness helps dispel the myth that modern or contemporary art is complicated, boring, or elitist. Instead, it highlights our innate ability to interpret and enjoy the beauty, form, and message behind every piece.
The Artist Spotlight Program and Supporting Emerging Artists
Among the foundation’s various initiatives, one that stands out is Artist Spotlight, a program devoted to recognizing and giving visibility to the talent of women artists—many of them young and emerging. Through this platform, selected artists receive targeted support, their work is promoted, and dialogue is encouraged around their creative process.
For Rocío, this focus on women artists is crucial, as their representation and acknowledgment have historically been more limited than those of their male counterparts. Statistics and personal accounts of many women artists in Mexico and around the world confirm that they have faced structural barriers and even prejudices that make it harder for them to access relevant forums.
The Artist Spotlight serves as something of a launch pad, going beyond simply exhibiting the works by including workshops, talks, discussion panels, and interviews where the community can learn firsthand about each artist’s motivations, techniques, and aspirations. This intimate and educational format allows those who attend to connect directly with the narrative behind each line, color, or texture of the piece on display.
The Magic of the “Oh Moment”
During our talk with Rocío, she described one of the most rewarding moments of her work at Olivia Foundation: when the audience experiences an “oh moment.” She refers to that sudden, almost euphoric awakening that happens when a person truly connects with a work of art.
For Rocío, this moment manifests physically: people’s posture changes, their energy intensifies, and their faces show a mixture of awe and admiration. It’s as though, all at once, everything clicks into place. Sometimes, that connection arises from the story provided by the guide or curator. Other times, it’s because the viewer finds a piece of their own life story reflected in the artwork.
This moment is priceless because it breaks down the barriers between the work and the viewer, between the creator and the public. The art becomes accessible, almost tangible, and thus comes alive in each person’s subjectivity. Rocío insists that this “oh moment” is at the heart of what they do at Olivia Foundation: to communicate what the artist aimed to express in such a way that the audience feels personally addressed and moved.
Historical Relevance and the Reinvention of Tradition
Olivia Foundation is not limited to exhibiting contemporary abstract art; it also pays tribute to Mexico’s artistic history, specifically to works created from the 1940s onward. Many of these pieces, made by women who forged their path in challenging environments, today form part of a cultural legacy that deserves recognition and a rightful place.
For the foundation’s team, showcasing these works is an act of cultural justice. It acknowledges that although the art scene often focuses attention on a handful of “established” names, there are many other creators who have made their mark and contributed to shaping our perception of Mexican art.
Thus, a bridge is built between past and present, between history and contemporaneity, between tradition and reinvention. This dialogue is vital to recognizing that art does not emerge in a vacuum but is nourished by different eras, influences, and contexts. By displaying historic pieces alongside those of emerging artists, an intergenerational conversation is stimulated, enriching the vision of everyone involved.
Experience at the Core
Something that unites Olivia Foundation and Espíritu is our emphasis on experiential engagement. For the foundation, art is a living phenomenon that gains meaning through interaction with people. For us, artisanal footwear is a fundamental aspect of cultural identity, and every pair of huaraches tells a story of its origins, woven by expert hands, of families passing on their craft, of the natural richness of the leather and other materials used.
Just as Rocío experiences the “oh moment” when she shares the story behind an artwork, we witness a similar instance when someone tries on huaraches and suddenly grasps the significance and care with which they were made. That moment of connection, when the viewer (or the customer) ceases to be a passive entity and becomes an active participant, is profoundly transformative.
The Power of Community and the Importance of Supporting the Arts
The work of Olivia Foundation wouldn’t be possible without the commitment of those who believe in the relevance of artistic expressions for human and cultural development. In a similar vein, Espíritu is supported by a community of individuals who value artisan manufacturing and the importance of honoring Mexican heritage.
For those of us at Espíritu, Rocío’s words are inspiring: “It’s wonderful to be able to communicate what an artist tried to convey and to see how people receive it.” This statement encapsulates art’s power as a catalyst for emotions, ideas, and reflections. Witnessing that shift in posture, that light in someone’s eyes when they connect with a story, a color, or a texture, reminds us that art and culture remain an unshakeable pillar of our collective identity.
Conclusion
Art, like traditional crafts, gives us a sense of belonging and, at the same time, a path to explore and innovate. At Olivia Foundation, you can sense this duality: deep respect for the historical memory of women artists and a clear commitment to the young creators who are transforming the contemporary art scene. The warmth they foster stands in contrast to institutional coldness, and their Artist Spotlight project opens doors to new talents, generating valuable cultural exchange.
At Espíritu, we celebrate and support initiatives like this because we firmly believe that as long as there are projects that bring people together through art, tradition, and dialogue, we will continue to be a more sensitive, creative, and supportive society. Just as the foundation sparks that “oh” moment in its visitors, we aspire to spark that same sense of connection in every pair of huaraches we make, telling stories and bringing community values into the daily lives of those who wear them.
Learning about Rocío’s perspective and delving into the heart of Olivia Foundation reaffirms for us that art, culture, and craft can go hand in hand to broaden horizons and help build a more inclusive and humane reality. We’re grateful for the opportunity to share this interview, and we invite you, whenever you’re seeking a different experience, to visit other foundations, collectives, or artistic spaces. There, you’ll find not only works to admire, but also stories that move the spirit and inspire our own inner quests.
If you’d like to learn more about Olivia Foundation, we invite you to visit their official website, discover their exhibition schedule, and, above all, experience firsthand the “oh moment” Rocío talks about.
At Espíritu, we will continue to support initiatives that share our values and that, through different artistic expressions, help us understand who we are and our place in the world. We look forward to having you join us in discovering the magic that arises when community, art, and tradition intertwine!
