Marta Donayre is prolific in the world of outsider art. Her portfolio includes a wide array of images that convey complex feelings and emotions. Recently, she joined a growing number of Latina artists who are reclaiming the image of the Virgen de Guadalupe and giving it new meaning. This movement is filled with controversy due to the inherent religious symbolism of the Virgen.

The HIV Guadalupe image attempts to redefine both the HIV epidemic as well as the meaning of the Virgen de Guadalupe for those who are infected. By placing the image of the Virgen over the HIV ribbon, Donayre sends the double message that (1) HIV is a Latino issue, and that (2) HIV-positive people are still considered children of the Divine. Although the Virgen de Guadalupe is mostly associated with the Catholic faith, the artist sees her as a powerful manifestation of the Divine Feminine, beyond any denominational labeling. Devotees of Guadalupe span the gamut of faiths from Ifa, to Jewish, to Native American, making her Motherly embrace universal.

HIV Guadalupe is the second in a series of twelve images of the Virgen that the artist is currently working on.