From August 25 through August 27, representatives from Visit Oakland, The Unity Council, the City of Oakland, Oakland Roots and Soul, and more made their way down south to witness the making of a 34-foot-tall Catrina sculpture, handcrafted by master artisans and destined for a new home in Oakland’s Fruitvale Transit Village.

At a time when so many in our Latino community are looking for reassurance and connection, this piece carries a clear message: our Latino community belongs and will stay here.

Standing 34-feet tall with both hands outstretched, La Catrina is designed to embody belonging and a sense of positivity to our Latino community in Oakland and across the rest of the nation. She’s not just a sculpture, she’s an invitation. And this fall, that invitation extends to all of Oakland, and to everyone who wants to experience her for themselves.

Visit Oakland has partnered closely with The Unity Council on this project, driven by a shared goal, bring visitors from across the country to see La Catrina in person, and shine a light on Oakland as one of the most culturally rich destinations in the nation.

La Catrina holds many meanings across Mexican culture, but for this project, her story is deeply personal. She’ll travel by truck from Tultepec, just an hour outside Mexico City, all the way to The Town. It’s a journey that mirrors the one so many Oakland families have made themselves, leaving their home country in search of a better life, and finding it here in Oakland.

She’s being created by Artsumex, a family-run collective of artisans based in Tultepec, Mexico and once complete, she’ll be the largest Catrina sculpture in the entire United States.

The team behind her includes Amauri Sanabria, one of the creators for La Catrina, Jesus Sanabria, who leads design and structural fabrication, and Natividad de Maria Sanabria, who oversees the painting. Producer of the collective, Romain Greco rounds out the leadership team. The team brings years of large-scale artist production experience, including work behind the scenes of the 2015 James Bond film Spectre.

A few details that make La Catrina truly one of a kind:

• She’s crafted from paper mache, a material with deep roots in traditional Mexican art
• She’ll weigh an estimated two tons
• More than 30 artisans are working on her construction
• Every inch is painted entirely by hand
• She’ll travel more than 2,000 miles to reach Oakland, arriving in pieces to be assembled on-site
• The project has taken over two months of dedicated craftsmanship

One of her most striking details is a crown of monarch butterflies on top of her head symbolizing the long migration so many immigrant families have made and echoing La Catrina’s own journey north to Oakland. The monarch butterflies are also accompanied by poppy flowers, a nod to California.

La Catrina carries different meanings depending on who you ask, but at her core, she represents remembrance, resilience, and belonging. Her outstretched arms are a gesture meant to embrace everyone who comes near her, honoring those who came before us while opening her arms to those still on their way.

Her unveiling will anchor Oakland’s Día de los Muertos Celebration, put on by The Unity Council, one of the largest celebrations of its kind in the country.

As Chris Iglesias, Chief Executive Officer of The Unity Council, put it, “Oakland has always been a welcoming place for Latinos and for immigrants... there's just a sense of belonging. They can educate their children, they can work, they can contribute to the community. That's what I think the Catrina represents to so many people."

While The Unity Council and Visit Oakland led the charge, this delegation grew far beyond its original scope. What started as a planned two-person trip became a 23-member delegation, including representatives from the City of Oakland, Oakland Roots and Soul, the Port of Oakland, PG&E, the Consulate General of Mexico, and several community and philanthropic partners.

Each organization recognized the importance of being present for this moment and wanted to help carry the story back home. The size of the group was intentional, the more voices behind this project, the further its message could travel.

As Visit Oakland’s President and CEO, Peter Gamez explained, "Tourism is on the rise. In the state of California, 44% of Mexican travelers to the U.S. want to come to California. At this cultural moment, we want to capitalize on that for Oakland."

The trip included two press conferences, one held at the Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport just before departure, and a second in Mexico City on the delegation’s final day, drawing a strong turnout of Mexican journalists.

Delegation members also toured the Artsumex studio, where they saw La Catrina being built piece by piece and had the chance to speak directly with the artisans. In a moment of celebration, the group shared a traditional tequila shot with the Artsumex team, a gesture of gratitude and friendship between the two cities.

One of the most meaningful moments of the trip came when Oakland Roots presented Artsumex lead artisan Amauri Sanabria with Oakland Roots jerseys, along with an Oakland Ballers jersey and championship ring. Those jerseys will travel inside the truck carrying La Catrina on her journey to Oakland, ensuring she arrives with a little Oakland spirit already woven into her story.

La Catrina arrived at Oakland’s Fruitvale Transit Village on September 23, marking the beginning of more than a month of community activations celebrating her arrival, leading into Día de los Muertos Festival on November 1.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime moment for Oakland, and we’re inviting visitors near and far to experience it firsthand. Extend your stay, support Fruitvale’s local businesses, book a night at one of Oakland’s hotels, and discover the magic of a neighborhood that so many immigrant families proudly call home.

As Peter Gamez shared, “What I hope people will feel and take away is the journey, and the welcoming spirit that the La Catrina represents... Oakland is known for its diversity. It’s known for its open spirit.”

Chris Iglesias put it simply: “Come support the local economy, come support the local businesses, and just see the beauty of the culture.”

Mark your calendar for October 1st and come see her for yourself.