About Isabel
My name is Isabel Alacote Vilcatoma. I was born in Cceraocro, district of Ocros, province of Huamanga, Ayacucho region. I am the seventh child of Emilio Alacote and Cecilia Vilcatoma, who were murdered in 1984 by the Shining Path during the years of political violence (1980-2000). As a consequence of that event, we migrated to Lima, and since then, we have lived in Huaycán, a district in Ate.
I am married and the mother of a little girl. I create my handicrafts using the technique of arpillería, making coin purses, handbags, cell phone holders, and memory panels that tell our history, traditions, as well as the flora and fauna of our country. I am a member of the Association of Affected and Victims of Political Violence from the 1980s to the 2000s, and I currently serve as the president of the Mama Quilla Association in Huaycán.
The Waytari Sunquy Arpilleras collection
The Waytari Sunquy arpilleras are hand-stitched textiles that transform memory into art. Rooted in ancestral traditions, they depict everyday life, landscapes, flora, fauna, and stories of survival from Peru’s years of political violence (1980–2000). Each piece honors victims and survivors, preserving silenced histories while celebrating resilience. In Quechua, Waytari Sunquy means “blossoming of the heart,” reflecting how art can turn wounds into strength and collective memory.
