Claudia Martinez Vargas was born in Mexico City in October of 1970. She moved to Oaxaca in 1996 where she became overwhelmed with the amount of trash in the city. From these flippantly discarded materials, Vargas chooses to create beauty. She possesses the ability to see artistic and aesthetic potential in recycled objects, and she morphs them into elaborate collages.

Claudia's works are more than aesthetically pleasing pieces. Vargas engages the viewers and forces one to study the materials. The global trademarks of Coca Cola, Orangina, and Chicklets become a representation of any contemporary consumer and how much waste a person can produce in their modern disposable lifestyle. With the increasing popularity of "going green", Claudia's work serves as an earth-conscious stimulant.

Her collages depict cultural images as homage to her heritage. Images of saints, skeletons and the Virgin de Guadalupe are constructed from items such as Ganasito packaging while flowers made from Lucas Salsagheti candy wrappers frame the subjects. The historical context of her focuses creates a paradoxical juxtaposition with the shortsightedness of the materials.

Simultaneously, the enjoyment of the subject matter is meant to be accessible by all much like the packaged products the works are made of. Her works contain a sense of lightheartedness with the undramatic representation of her topics. The vibrancy of the colors and forms that compose her works are a mesmerizing delight to all that see it. She often exhibits her work in Oaxaca, Mexico City, Chicago, Santa Fe and San Antonio.