Dulce Montalvo (she/her) is a Mexican-American self-taught artist from Seattle, based in Portland, Oregon. Her work reflects her cultural and personal experiences as a woman and a first-generation daughter of immigrants. Her art delves into themes related to Mexico, Chicano culture, and matrescence—the transformation associated with pregnancy. Montalvo's pieces, which evoke nostalgia and familial connections to Mexico City, are included in private collections across major cities including Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, New York City, London, UK, and Mexico City, MX. Additionally, she serves as the assistant director and curator at Froelick Gallery in Portland, where she advocates for BIPOC artists and aims to foster a culturally engaged community.

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Dulce Montalvo apprenticed under her late mother-in-law, artist Molly Cliff-Hilts, who introduced her to a unique encaustic technique that combines painting, sculpture, photography, and printmaking. As Molly battled cancer, Dulce took on the roles of caregiver and studio assistant, helping to complete Molly's final painting for her family’s private collection. Before Molly passed away on January 21, 2021, she handed down her fully equipped art studio to Dulce leaving a lasting legacy of mentorship and support.

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Please consider donating to The Molly Cliff-Hilts Scholarship for Historically Marginalized Artists

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