Today we’d like to introduce you to Brenda Sanchez.
Hi Brenda, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve always been an artist, even long before I knew how to call myself one. I grew up in East Austin surrounded by creativity, with my mom as a piñata artist and my uncle as a painter, so art was woven into my childhood in ways I didn’t fully appreciate until much later. I was that kid who stayed late in art class or came back after school just to finish a project. At around ten years old, one of my paintings was displayed at the old Las Manitas Café downtown, where actor Owen Wilson happened to see it and asked to purchase it. Meeting him was surreal, but my artistic journey after that became anything but linear.
As a first-generation Mexican American who grew up low income, I felt a lot of pressure to pursue a “secure” career. Society’s idea of the “starving artist” made creative paths feel like they were only accessible to people who already had financial safety nets. Even though I loved drawing and took architecture and sketching courses in college, including studying abroad in Italy, where I spent time documenting ancient villas and drawing on-site in Pompeii, I eventually switched my major to business after landing an internship in tech consulting.
I went on to build a career in corporate consulting, but the fast-paced, high-demand environment slowly pulled me away from my creativity. It wasn’t until I left my consulting job earlier this year due to severe burnout that I finally made space for art again. I started making piñatas with my mom as a way to decompress, reconnect with myself, and find joy. What began as an emotional reset turned into Dulce Piñatas, the mother and daughter creative studio we launched this summer.
As an evolving artist and new entrepreneur, I feel like I’ve come full circle, back to my roots, honoring my heritage, and getting to create alongside my mom. This path has also allowed me to show up as a mother in new ways I never imagined. I’m still figuring out balance, but the spark that I had lost for so long has returned.
Becoming part of Austin’s artist community has been an unexpected gift. I didn’t grow up knowing spaces like this existed. For many first-gen creatives, career paths are unclear and the idea of stepping away from something stable is terrifying. Taking a leap of faith to build Dulce Piñatas has been one of the greatest decisions I’ve made. We are more than a piñata business, creating a legacy that bridges generations.
Our recent work has been featured in the Las Piñatas Día de los Muertos exhibition organized by Latinos in Architecture, along with Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations. The love and support from the community have been incredible, and I am excited to keep growing, creating, and contributing to the city that raised me.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not at all, but I think that’s what makes this journey meaningful. For me, the path to becoming an artist has been anything but straightforward. As a first-generation Mexican American, I grew up with a lot of pressure to choose stability over passion. Creative careers felt risky, and for a long time I didn’t think someone with my background could truly pursue them. That mindset stayed with me into adulthood and pushed me toward a corporate career that eventually led to severe burnout.
Leaving consulting earlier this year was both necessary and terrifying. I had to rebuild my confidence, redefine success on my own terms, and learn how to trust my creativity again. Starting a business from scratch has also come with its own challenges. I’m a new mom, a wife, and an entrepreneur all at once, so figuring out balance in a way that honors my mental health and my family has been an ongoing learning curve.
Financial uncertainty has also been real. Going from a stable tech salary to entrepreneurship requires a big mindset shift. There’s no playbook, especially for first-gen creatives, so I’m learning as I go while trying to build something sustainable and rooted in joy.
Another challenge has been allowing myself to be seen as an artist. Even though I grew up around art, claiming that identity after years in the corporate world took courage. There’s a lot of unlearning and healing involved in giving yourself permission to pursue a path that feels true to who you are.
Despite the challenges, every struggle has pushed me closer to my purpose. Piñata making has helped me reconnect with my heritage, my creativity, and my community. It’s not a smooth road, but it’s the most authentic one I’ve ever been on, and I’m grateful for it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m the founder and artist behind Dulce Piñatas, a mother and daughter creative studio based in Austin. We design and handcraft piñatas that go far beyond the traditional party accessory. My work sits at the intersection of art, culture, storytelling, and experience design. I specialize in creating custom pieces for personal celebrations, branded campaigns, experiential activations, and large-scale installations.
My background in customer experience and design consulting influences a lot of what I create. I approach each project with both an artistic lens and a problem-solving mindset. I love asking, “How can this piece spark connection? How can it invite joy, reflection, or interaction?” That has led to some of my most meaningful work — like a six-foot photo-op piñata installation for Hispanic Heritage Month and a 15-piece branded piñata campaign for a startup encouraging their enterprise clients to literally “Break the Black Box.”
I’m most known for blending traditional piñata craftsmanship, which I learned from my mom, with modern design, recycled materials, and interactive elements. Every piece is handcrafted with intention, whether it’s a small custom order or a full-scale art installation. When people encounter my work, I want them to feel the joy and nostalgia piñatas naturally bring, but I also want them to see piñata-making elevated as a form of contemporary art.
What I’m most proud of is that this is truly a generational story. I get to create alongside my mom, honor the techniques she’s carried for decades, and share that heritage with my son. Our work has been featured in the Las Piñatas Día de los Muertos event with Latinos in Architecture, at corporate cultural celebrations, and throughout the Austin creative community. Each project reminds me that our culture has value, our stories belong in artistic spaces, and our traditions deserve to evolve and be celebrated.
What sets me apart is the blend of my heritage, my lived experience as a first-generation Latina, and my professional background in design and strategy. My art is rooted in cultura, but it’s also grounded in intention, storytelling, and impact. I’m not just creating piñatas. I’m creating experiences. I’m creating connection. And I’m creating a legacy that bridges generations.
Any big plans?
I’m really excited about the future of Dulce Piñatas because this past year has felt like a beautiful “proof of concept.” From large-scale installations to corporate collaborations to commissioned cultural pieces, I’ve been able to test what’s possible when piñata-making meets art, storytelling, and experiential design. The next chapter is all about scaling that vision with intention.
In 2026, I’m planning to relaunch Dulce Piñatas as a full creative studio with expanded offerings. That includes building a small studio space to increase production, creating a dedicated workflow for brand and corporate clients, and investing in high-quality photography, branding, and a new website to better showcase our work. I’m also focused on strengthening our operational foundation by becoming an LLC, refining our client onboarding, and creating systems that allow us to keep up with demand while maintaining the artistry and craftsmanship we’re known for.
Artistically, I’m looking forward to creating more large interactive installations and collaborations with cultural organizations, brands, and community events. My goal is to position piñata-making within the world of experiential art, where people can engage, take photos, interact, and connect with cultura in memorable ways.
As a first-generation Latina artist and entrepreneur, I’m also excited to expand the narrative around what piñatas can be. I want Dulce Piñatas to be a place where tradition and modern creativity meet, where my mom’s decades of craftsmanship are honored, and where new generations see our culture represented in bold, innovative ways.
There are definitely big changes coming, but all of them are rooted in the same mission:
to celebrate culture, spark connection, and create joyful, meaningful art that bridges generations.
Pricing:
- Standard size individual Custom piñatas start at $100
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dulcepinatas.com
- Instagram: dulcepinatas_atx
Image Credits
None
