Charlene Amini
American-Bolivian artist, writer, and cultural advocate
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Charlene Amini (formerly known as Charlene Eckels) is an American-Bolivian artist, writer, and cultural advocate. She is the founder of the American Bolivian Collective, a platform dedicated to celebrating Bolivian identity through art, storytelling, and community engagement. Amini's work explores diaspora, Amazonian heritage, and the role of women in cultural memory.[1]
Charlene Amini | |
|---|---|
| Born | Charlene Eckels North Carolina, U.S. |
| Education | University of North Carolina Wilmington |
| Occupations | Artist, writer, cultural advocate |
| Known for | Founding the American Bolivian Collective |
| Spouse | Martin Amini |
Career
In 2019, Amini founded the American Bolivian Collective (ABC), to amplify underrepresented Bolivian diasporic voices.[2] In 2022, she launched the American Bolivian Collective Scholarship in Memory of Janett Adams, honoring her mother's legacy as a media pioneer and cultural advocate.[3] In 2025, she published a Bolivian-themed coloring book, highlighting Indigenous and folkloric elements of Bolivian culture.
Amini collaborated on a Nike shoe inspired by the Bolivian Amazon.[4]
Her work has been featured in several media outlets, including Remezcla,[1] Bolivian Express,[5] the U.S. Embassy,[6] and the Bolivian news outlet Brújula Digital.[7]
Personal life
Charlene Amini is married to comedian Martin Amini, founder of Room 808.[8] Her mother was from the Bolivian Amazon, a heritage that informs much of Amini's art and advocacy work.[6]