My name is Uri Whitehead but My maiden name is Uri Alvear.

My work is shaped by my life experiences, my community, and the people who have influenced me along the way. I grew up on the West Side of San Antonio in a Mexican American household where creativity was a part of everyday life. Some of my earliest memories of art come from the hand painted window art in local Mexican restaurants, public murals throughout the city, and the projects my mother would create at home. She was an artist at heart and encouraged creativity through drawing, crafting, and painting murals on the walls of our rooms. Those experiences planted the seed for my love of art at a very young age.

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Even though I always wanted to be an artist, life took me in a different direction for many years. I became a mother at seventeen, and my focus shifted to raising a family and building a stable life for my children. I worked as a professional tattoo artist for fifteen years, which allowed me to stay connected to art while developing my skills in drawing and design. Later, I spent several years working in the banking industry. While those experiences were an important part of my journey, I always carried the dream of pursuing art more deeply.

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When my children grew older, I returned to school and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Art  and a minor in Business administration and Art history and Criticism ,from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2024. As a first generation college graduate, returning to school later in life was both challenging and rewarding, and it gave me the opportunity to fully invest in my creative practice.

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Today, I work in painting, printmaking, and sculpture. Much of my work is inspired by personal experience, community, identity, and resilience. In my sculptural practice, I often use recycled metal and found objects. I am drawn to materials that have been weathered, overlooked, or discarded because they remind me that growth and transformation can come from unexpected places. Through my work, I hope to create honest connections, celebrate the communities that shaped me, and share stories that others can see themselves in.