Anna Marie Varela (b.1960 Phoenix, AZ) is from a blue collar family where her mother insisted to become familiar with her Hispanic culture. Anna moved to Texas where she obtained a BA (1992), MFA (2004) and MA (2006) from UT Pan-Am. She is an educator, painter, sculptor, curator for Beyond Gallery 218 and has recently collaborated with husband, Benjamin Varela, as she is learning his trades in print making. Anna has exhibited in California, Chicago, New York and Texas. She won best in show in Maverick, NY for her painting Pain of Death and first place for her ceramic house Casa de Sanchez at the UTPA, chosen in several international exhibits Women Made Gallery in Bloomingdale, IL.