Guadalupe: The Strength and Resistance of LA Morenita

Guadalupe, La Morenita, has long stood as a symbol of protection and advocacy for the people. Her image—a brown woman—was once appropriated by the Church to suppress Indigenous populations during the conquest of Mexico. Yet, amidst genocide and attempted erasure, La Morenita rose as a quiet but powerful emblem of resistance, embodying the resilience of her people.

Her story is one of defiance and hope. She offers us an origin, a beginning—an affirmation that as long as she exists, we cannot be erased. El Pueblo—the people Guadalupe represents—is where our true faith resides: in ourselves—as people of color, as survivors, as creators of our own destiny.

Moving beyond the confines of religious iconography, we recognize how Guadalupe’s defiance endures—from surviving conquest to standing against modern injustices like ICE and its ongoing violence against brown communities.

Join Avenue 50 Studio in celebrating the enduring symbolism of this sacred figure in our exhibition, Guadalupe: The Strength and Resistance of La Morenita.