CLARET ANAYA AND HER PROJECT ARRECIFE ESCOLAR

My name is Claret Anaya, Visual Artist and muralist, graduated from the Faculty of Arts and Design at UNAM. I am also an environmental ambassador for the Mares Foundation and the Ocean Institute, and I am certified by the National Committee for Environmental Training and Certification.

I founded Arrecife Escolar in 2022, a project that combines art, ocean education, and community work. Through it, I have created 22 murals in schools across Mexico City, alongside a multidisciplinary team committed to generating a positive impact in the community.

My work has been recognized by the Mares Foundation and the Environmental Secretariat of Mexico City. I have had the opportunity to exhibit my work in Mexico and the United States, and it has been featured in national and international media. In 2024, I participated as a speaker at the Ocean Forum, and in 2025, I was featured in Metamorfosis Book magazine, distributed in Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

I decided to create this project by uniting my three greatest passions: art, animals, and spreading environmental awareness. My main motivation arose when I identified the lack of visual tools in primary schools—spaces that should be fertile ground for inspiring future scientists, artists, researchers, and environmental leaders.

Thus, the idea was born to bring art with an educational purpose, using muralism as a way to raise awareness about the challenges faced by various marine species and ecosystems at risk of extinction, as well as the impact that we, as city dwellers in places like Mexico City, have on the ocean. In this city, few people have the opportunity to visit the sea or even go to an aquarium. That’s why creating murals that represent marine life becomes an accessible and effective way to bring the ocean closer to children, helping them understand how their actions can protect or harm marine ecosystems, and how ocean health is directly linked to our life and survival on the planet.

Arrecife Escolar is a multidisciplinary project involving professionals from various fields. Nancy Valdovinos, a pedagogue, designs engaging workshops and activities that capture the attention and curiosity of children. Biologist Eilen Segura ensures that the information and artistic representations we share are scientifically accurate, making sure each species depicted in the murals reflects reality. Psychologist Meztli Alvear provides emotional support for children during in-person activities, ensuring safe and respectful spaces. Jorge Villaseñor, computer engineer, contributes to both workshops and the development of technological tools, networks, and the project's website.

As for me, as a visual artist and muralist, I design each mural in a way that allows the entire school community to participate in its creation, and I later execute and finalize it. I also coordinate collaborations with institutions, organizations, and foundations that share our vision, with the goal of bringing ocean education to more schools in Mexico City and continuing to create what we call ocean windows: spaces that allow people to look into, learn about, and connect with marine life—even while far from the sea.

See you

Claret (IG: @Arrecife.Escolar)