ThoughtGallery.org > Julia Pastrana and the Eye of the Beholder by Laura Anderson Barbata

Julia Pastrana and the Eye of the Beholder by Laura Anderson Barbata

Born in Sinaloa, Mexico, Julia Pastrana (1834–1860) was a gifted singer, musician, and dancer who could converse in English, Spanish, French, and her native Cahita. She also suffered from one of the most extreme cases of hypertrichosis terminalis on record and severe gingival hyperplasia: her face and body were covered with thick hair and her jaw was disproportionately large. Pastrana toured North America and Europe billed as “The Ugliest Woman in the World.” Artist Laura Anderson Barbata lobbied for a decade for the repatriation of Julia Pastrana from the University of Oslo, Norway, where her body was kept, to be buried in Sinaloa, Mexico. In this talk, Barbata will share her 10 years of work to have Pastrana’s body repatriated to Mexico for burial.

Laura Anderson Barbata is a 2022-2023 National Arts Club Artist Fellow. Her recent book will be available for purchase.











When: Fri., Apr. 28, 2023 at 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Where: The National Arts Club
15 Gramercy Park S.
212-475-3424
Price: Free
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Born in Sinaloa, Mexico, Julia Pastrana (1834–1860) was a gifted singer, musician, and dancer who could converse in English, Spanish, French, and her native Cahita. She also suffered from one of the most extreme cases of hypertrichosis terminalis on record and severe gingival hyperplasia: her face and body were covered with thick hair and her jaw was disproportionately large. Pastrana toured North America and Europe billed as “The Ugliest Woman in the World.” Artist Laura Anderson Barbata lobbied for a decade for the repatriation of Julia Pastrana from the University of Oslo, Norway, where her body was kept, to be buried in Sinaloa, Mexico. In this talk, Barbata will share her 10 years of work to have Pastrana’s body repatriated to Mexico for burial.

Laura Anderson Barbata is a 2022-2023 National Arts Club Artist Fellow. Her recent book will be available for purchase.

Buy tickets/get more info now