Mrinali Álvarez Astacio nació en San Juan, Puerto Rico, el 12 de enero de 1973. Es artista plástica, ilustradora y autora. Estudió Bellas Artes en Columbus College of Art and Design en EE. UU. y tiene una maestría en Ilustración de Libros Infantiles de Cambridge School of Art en el Reino Unido. Ha publicado libros con la Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico como autora e ilustradora, algunos de los cuales fueron premiados en Latino Book Awards y Publisher ‘s West. Sus trabajos de ilustración han sido exhibidos en Galleria Piazza San Marco, Venecia, Italia; y en Coningsby Gallery y Candid Gallery en Londres. En el 2017, recibió la mención “Highly Commended Artwork” en el certamen Macmillan Prize for Children’s Book Illustration y en el 2016 fue una de tres ganadores en el certamen Beginning, Middle and End de la Society of Children ‘s Book Writers and Illustrators-British Isles ambos en Londres, Reino Unido. Su publicación más reciente es Piecitos de bebé (Editorial Destellos, Puerto Rico, 2021). Sobre la beca Letras Boricuas, Mrinali apunta que “recibir esta beca significa para mí un reconocimiento a mi labor como autora-ilustradora. Es un refuerzo a mi motivación y es una ayuda que servirá de gran apoyo para mis planes futuros, en especial para terminar el doctorado en ilustración de libros infantiles en Cambridge School of Art en el Reino Unido.”
Mrinali Álvarez Astacio was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on January 12, 1973. She is a visual artist, illustrator, and author. She studied Fine Arts at Columbus College of Art and Design in the USA and has a master’s degree in Children’s Book Illustration from Cambridge School of Art in the UK. She has published books with the publishing house of the University of Puerto Rico as an author and illustrator, for some of which she received the Latino Book Awards and the Publisher’s West Award. She has exhibited her illustration works in Galleria Piazza San Marco; Venice, Italy; and at Coningsby Gallery and Candid Gallery in London. In 2017, she received the mention of Highly Commended Artwork in the Macmillan Prize for Children’s Book Illustration competition. In 2016, she was one of three winners at the Beginning, Middle, and End competition of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators-British Isles, in London, UK. Her illustrated artist books were featured at the Norwich Artist Book Fair and Gallery Above in Linton. Her most recent publication is Piecitos de bebé (Baby feet, Editorial Destellos, Puerto Rico, 2021). About being named a Letras Boricuas Fellow, Mrinali points out that “receiving this fellowship means for me a recognition of my work as an author-illustrator. It boosts my motivation, and it is an aid that will significantly support my plans, especially to finish my doctorate in children’s book illustration at Cambridge School of Art in the UK.