Cholita Skaters

This utility box is inspired by Imilla Skate, a collective of Bolivian women who skate while
wearing traditional clothing associated with Indigenous women of the highland regions. Their
bowler hats, long braids, and colorful layered pollera skirts, once symbols of discrimination, are
now embraced as icons of pride and empowerment. By skating in this attire, Imilla Skate
celebrates and reclaims their Indigenous heritage, challenging discrimination by showcasing
their culture with pride and power.
Creating this piece became a way for me to bridge my father’s homeland with Providence,
Rhode Island by connecting two places through a shared love of skateboarding. When the
mural was vandalized, I chose to repaint the women over the grey paint, leaving traces of the
damage visible. By engaging with defacement, the work reflects the long histories of resilience
within Indigenous Bolivian communities, affirming that even when identity is threatened with
erasure, it rises again with renewed strength and vitality.