Today we’d like to introduce you to Cindy Tobar.
Hi Cindy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My love for art started at a young age. I had an amazing elementary school art teacher who inspired me and made me believe that one day I could become an art instructor myself. In high school, I started exploring tattooing, piercing, and street art, and in my early adult years, I began exhibiting my work in galleries and eventually expanded into henna, murals, printmaking, and public art.
Over the years, my husband Ernesto and I have grown our creative practice, Ernesto & Cindy Design, working on murals, public art projects, workshops, and community-based projects throughout Texas. A meaningful part of that journey has been working closely with the Indigenous Cultures Institute as art instructors and creating Powwow shirt designs and other commissions. That work has also helped me reconnect more deeply with my Coahuiltecan roots.
Today, I balance my career in facilities management with my life as an artist, instructor, wife, and mother. My journey hasn’t followed one straight path, but every experience has shaped how I approach art, community, and the work I do today.
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?
t definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. I’ve spent many years balancing motherhood, a full-time career managing large-scale projects, and finding time to continue growing as an artist.
One of the best parts of my journey was meeting my husband, Ernesto, after moving to Austin. Together, we’ve found a great balance in supporting each other’s creative goals while raising our big family. Like anyone, we’ve faced challenges, changes, and rejection along the way, but those experiences have helped me grow. Moving to Austin four years ago brought another new chapter and opened so many doors for us creatively and within our community.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Our work is rooted in public art, culture, storytelling, and community. Through Ernesto & Cindy Design, we specialize in murals, public art, printmaking, sculpture, and community-based art experiences. We are especially known for creating colorful, meaningful work that reflects the history, culture, and people connected to each space.
Community engagement is a big part of our process. We enjoy working directly with residents, organizations, and youth to make sure the people we are creating for can see themselves represented in the finished work. We also work closely with the Indigenous Cultures Institute as art instructors, which has allowed us to share traditional knowledge, creativity, and our connection to our Coahuiltecan roots.
I am most proud of how much our work has grown while still remaining personal. We have had opportunities to create large-scale public murals, design artwork for universities and cultural organizations, teach workshops, mentor young artists, and create designs for events such as the Sacred Springs Powwow.
What sets us apart is that we don’t approach public art as simply decorating a wall or space. We want every project to tell a story and create a connection. Ernesto and I also bring different artistic strengths and perspectives to our collaborations, and together we have developed a practice centered on culture, family, community, and creating work that people can feel connected to.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
We’ve been fortunate to have an incredible support system. Our family and children are our biggest cheerleaders and have supported us throughout this journey. We’re especially grateful to Dr. Mario Garza and the Indigenous Cultures Institute for helping us reconnect with our Coahuiltecan roots and providing opportunities to teach and create. Raasin McIntosh and Raasin in the Sun have also been wonderful advocates, continuously believing in our work and connecting us with new opportunities. We’re thankful for every client, organization, and community that has trusted us to tell their stories through art.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ErnestoCindy.Design
- Instagram: ernestocindydesign
- Facebook: Cindy Tobar Hernandez
