Estefanía Quintero González
Estefanía Quintero González is the creator of Andes, a project that embodies her passion for art and her deep connection to her Colombian roots. Inspired by the rich cultural heritage and natural beauty of Boyacá, Estefanía combines her love for knitting, drawing, and painting (watercolor especially) into the unique craft of tufting. Her creations, which she describes as "painting with wool," are artistic expressions that capture the essence of Boyacá's flora, fauna, and Muisca culture. The art of tufting consists of forming loops or fringes of wool on fabric, creating unique decorative pieces that stand out for their softness, warmth, and personality.
Born in Tunja, the capital of the department of Boyacá, Estefanía has a profound love for the natural wealth of her region. Her strong connection to Boyacá's cultural identity inspires her to channel these feelings into her creative and artistic process through her project, Andes, named after the Andes mountain range. Growing up in a city where traces of the Muisca's pre-Hispanic ancestral past are still alive, she has vivid childhood and adolescent memories of history classes about her city and walks through historical places that preserve the vestiges of Muisca culture.
The women in Estefanía's family, especially her mother and aunts, have always been knitters. As a child, she fondly remembers afternoons filled with snacks, crochet, and two-needle knitting. However, her greatest and most significant artistic influence came from her brother, Diego Fernando, who was the family artist. From a very young age, she admired his talent, dedication, and patience, which were beautifully reflected in the oil paintings, ceramics, and looms created by his hands. His passion for the arts was the greatest legacy he left her after his passing five years ago. As a personal commitment, she hopes one day to showcase his work as a posthumous tribute.
Estefanía acknowledges the challenges she faces as an artisan, particularly in educating the public about the value of handmade work and overcoming barriers to entering local markets. People often overlook the fact that handmade work encompasses much more than just the final product. It involves dedication, technique, materials, design, uniqueness, meaning, and history—elements that are absent in industrial and mass-produced goods.
Despite these struggles, she remains dedicated to her craft, emphasizing the importance of enjoying the creative process and trusting in her abilities. Her transition from a structured engineering career to the fluid nature of art has been transformative, requiring personal sacrifices that she views as investments in her project's success. Estefanía's meticulous approach to both the creative and administrative aspects of Andes, coupled with her family's support, has allowed her to thrive as an entrepreneur. Through Andes, she seeks to remind her community of its rich cultural heritage while inspiring a deeper appreciation for the artistry and craftsmanship that define her work.
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While we were in Colombia, Estefanía and her older brother made a four-hour round trip from Tunja to Monguí on a Sunday afternoon just to meet with Braeden and me. We spent an hour discussing our projects, and it was truly empowering to connect with such a like-minded individual. Estefanía believed in our project so deeply that she gifted us an original watercolor painting of a native bird species found in the Andes. Although we only have a few of her products in stock, Estefanía is open to commissions and plans to have more inventory with us soon.
"Andes is a very young project, so the most memorable response I have had is that of Sumercé Artisans; it was a feeling that, in such a big world, noble causes can make it feel closer. It is very nice to see that someone from a faraway place came, got to know my culture and my territory, and fell in love with what they saw, and now wants to make it known. It only makes me feel proud and grateful for the territory where I was born and raised. Furthermore, this makes me feel a sense of responsibility to continue making my articles in a respectful and committed way with the art and artists of my region."
