Catherine Marguerite Villagran was born in Paris, France. She has traveled extensively all over Europe, Africa, the South Pacific islands and America.
In the summer of 1982 she crossed the Sahara desert with a Peugeot 504. The trip altered her perception of time and transformed her deepest beliefs. Escaping a land ravaged by misery and unbelievable smiles, she ended up in Ouagadougou, where she sold her car to pay her way back to the States. It is at that time that she started to understand the idea of a global world. Her art is inspired by the colors she saw in her voyages, the different cultures she encountered as well as nature, her dreams, myths, and legends.
She studied film at San Francisco State University for five years and worked successfully in the industry, mostly as a costume designer for over 17 years. She created costumes for singers such as Michael Jackson, M.C. Hammer, Linda Rondstat, Eric Clapton, Barry White, Body & Soul, Michael Jeffries, Thomas Dolby and for actors such as Michael J.Fox, oscar winning actress Kristine Scott-Thomas, Albert Finney, Cathie Baker, John Mahonney, Swoozie Kurt, Jeff Goldblum, Randy Quaid, Bill Pullmann and Bill Paxton.
In 1992, she found love and married Orlando, a native Californian and a graphic designer. She started painting the very week she met him and never stopped. Their beautiful daughter was born in 1993.
She went to Otis College of Art and Design and acquired a Certificate in Surface Pattern Design. She greatly perfected her painting techniques there. In 1997, she had a one woman show at “Lunaria Gallery” where she sold seven paintings in three hours! This was the beginning of successful exhibits.
She also studied etching and sculpture at Santa Monica College. She received the 2000 National Arts Association Award for best etching for her piece “Montamalpais”, a photo etching.
Catherine continues to exhibit and curate in the United States and France. One of her project is the 30th Anniversary Art Festival for Antioch University in November of 2002. It was the most significant event at that University in over 10 years and it transformed the whole campus for a year.
Catherine also completed a Single Subject Teaching Credential in art from California State University Los Angeles. Since then she has been teaching Art in urban neighborhoods in the United States such as South Central in Los Angeles and Overtown in Miami.
When the Great Recession hit Miami in full force in 2009, she came back to California with her family. Since 2011, she has been teaching at Palisades Charter High School, an independent charter that has a student population that covers a hundred different zip codes, and is also one of the best school in the United States.
Work History
Teaching
South El Monte High School - South El Monte, CA • Grades 9 through 12
• Intro to Art, Drawing & Painting included Printmaking
Booker T. Washington Senior High School – Miami, FL • Grades 9 through 12
• AP 2D Studio Art, Intro to Art 1 & 2, Drawing & Painting 1 & 2, Sculpture 1 included Printmaking
Santee Educational Complex - Los Angeles, CA • Grades 9 through 12
• Intro to Art 1 & 2, Painting 1 & 2, Sculpture 1 & 2 included Printmaking and Surface Pattern Design & Intro to Fashion Design
Textile Design and illustrations
Mattel Toys Task consisted in creating designs, putting them into repeats and making color ways for Sleeping Beauty, Jasmine, Tarzan & Barbie.
Disney Catalogue Division International Style Out
Task consisted in creating presentation boards for the annual catalogue review by international teams.
Style Guide Graphic Elements for Disney Consumer Products
Task consisted in creating trends for the next year products guide to vendors.
Strategic Partners
Repeats for medical uniforms.
Fashion Initiative
Creation of hundreds of patterns, color ways and repeats for the textile industry.
Misaine Inc
Creation of lines of tableware.
Costume Designer
13 features: Costumes for actors such as Albert Finney, Cathie Baker, John Mahonney, Swoozie Kurt, Jeff Goldblum, Randy Quaid, Bill Pullmann, Bill Paxton, Christine Scott-Thomas.
40 videos: Costumes for singers such as Michael Jackson, Barry White, M.C. Hammer, Body & Soul, Michael Jeffries, Thomas Dolby. Over 100 national & international commercials Clients: Pepsi Cola (Michael J. Fox), Mexican Tourism (Linda Rondstat), Kinko’s copies, Michelob Beers (Eric Clapton) and more.
Art Exhibitions
From 1992 to 2016, Catherine has participated in 50 National and International art Exhibits in Los Angeles, CA and Paris, France.