Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Enriquez.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Courtney Enriquez is a native of Austin, Texas, with deep family roots in nearby San Marcos, where her parents, Joe and Bobbie, were married before settling in Austin. From an early age, Courtney was encouraged by her mother to explore creative outlets like dance, drawing, and painting, alongside sports such as softball and volleyball.
Her passion for art began at Austin High School, where an elective art class sparked her interest. With the support of a dedicated teacher who encouraged her to compete in local and national student competitions, she earned a “Gold Key” Scholastic Award—an achievement that gave her the confidence to pursue art more seriously.
A self-taught artist, Courtney received her first Art in Public Places commission from the City of Austin in 1998 for a piece titled “A Dream”. Rey Gaytan, Sam Coronado and Liliana Wilson, established and renowned local Austin artists, mentored and encouraged me to continue painting and drawing.
Courtney’s public artworks include murals at Juan in a Million restaurant and along the Plaza Juan Raul parking lot. She also ran a studio where she created and sold upcycled and wearable art, original works, and offered community art classes. She is also known for using the 100 year old Mexican Loteria images with a twist adding her own flavor to the different images.
June of 2025, Courtney was honored with the ESB-MACC Award of Excellence: Emerging Artist, recognizing her contributions to Austin’s cultural and artistic landscape.
Her travels to Cuba, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Cyprus, Saudi Arabia, and Mexico continue to inspire her work, which reflects a rich blend of cultural experience and personal narrative.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think as an artist we struggle in creating pieces that are very personal to us along with having others seeing my art and accepting, rejecting or absolutely loving it!
Challenges are having space to exhibit and show/sell my work. Also being more disciplined to draw, paint and create can be challenging. The exciting thing about challenges and obstacles it pushes you to better yourself in many way in order to overcome and keep pressing.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Painter, muralist and crafter! I am known for being the “Lotería Lady”. As I tend to create allot of my artwork with the Mexican Lotería images. I recently exhibited at La Pena Gallery(July 2025) in downtown Austin. This was my 2nd exhibition since 1997.
My first exhibition was a one night show that I painted several watercolors of the Lotería in order to raise funds for my down payment on a home for boys as a single mom at the time. I sold over 20 pieces of art that night. And I also received an Arts in Public Places commission for a mural at Dove Springs Recreation Center.
I am most proud of being able to use my God given talent to create and paint. I love using the Lotería as a subject for my art because this is a part of our Mexican culture where families and friends come together for a game of chance. People relate to the images, or they see themselves as the image or family maybe even nicknamed them after an image from the Lotería. In this way it sparks conversations, brings past memories of good pastimes.
My art is lively and vibrant full of color! What sets my work apart is that just when people think I am done taking the Loteria from watercolor, to acrylic then mixed media and it just all keeps getting better.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Readers should know I stepped away from art at professional level for many years to raise my sons as a single mom. I always created but not at the capacity I am now.
So I want to encourage others to keep pushing and pursue your passions and put to work skills and God given talent. It might just bless others while you are doing what you love.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.loteriafest.com
- Instagram: @lacourtneyarte
- Facebook: LoteriaFest
