Rooted in the traditional Mexican folk art of Papel Picado, Karina Puente hand cuts patterns, illustrations, and words into paper to be hung in personal and public spaces. Cutting into, out of, and through paper is her way of writing, of transforming heritage and story into a sensory, symbolic, and consciousness-raising experience. Her grandmother was a seamstress by trade. People brought her clothes to mend; she also sewed her own designs. She toggled the border between Mexico and Texas, hand-delivering her work to clients. Working from home, heart, and by hand is her way of honoring her grandmother's legacy. True to the “bridge” in her last name, Puente creates art to navigate and uplift the stories and struggles of marginalized communities.