“When I portray my subjects and my photography, I want to show them as they are in the world, more so than my own vision, but just kind of bring them into my world as they are. And with my accessories, I want people to be able to adorn themselves with things that make them feel pretty and powerful,” said Katileena, a vendor at the Pure Filthy Love Market selling her photography and accessories. She emphasized community and authenticity in her art as the driving forces.
Pure Filthy Love
On Saturday, Feb. 7, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., the Pure Filthy Love Market was hosted in downtown Salt Lake City, showcasing various Valentine’s inspired, original artwork by several vendors. Each brand had its own, unique style and look, but each shared the common denominator of eccentricity, political activism and alternativism. Inside the busy, indoor venue, one could find clothes, accessories, prints and more.
The brand Eternal Skin featured various tattoo designs and prints, black-and-white with strong linework. Towards the right, artists Quinn and Riley shared a long table covered with a blue, lace tablecloth, with each of their designs organized cohesively side-by-side. Quinn’s side hosted multiple patches designed with dramatic vintage medical photos, and Riley’s with delicate, intricate pastel design prints.
Pure Filth
One of the curators of Pure Filth, Natalia Gutierrez, says she’s been creating clothes since she was 14. “I couldn’t afford the new trends and stuff. I couldn’t really afford new clothes. So, I would just thrift clothes and then make them into my own, you know, that’s how I really started,” Gutierrez said, “and then I had my first fashion show in July 2024. And honestly, that’s how I got my brand out there. But overall, I literally just manifested everything.”
Categorized by prints, sexy silhouettes, affirmations and bold colors, Pure Filth is strong and ultramodern. Key inspirations behind the brand are activism, an often too quiet world, being an empowered woman in male-dominated spaces and overcoming difficult circumstances. Gutierrez added to this. “To me, Pure Filth means coming together in your community, being creative, having a creative outlet, because I feel like everybody is creative in a sense,” she said. “It’s actually coming together and making it happen. No matter what it takes, we’re gonna grind really hard.”
Eye-catching and sleek designs
Walking past the skaters and lively conversations, Katileena was one of the first vendors when coming into the market. Differing photography prints were laid out on her table, as well as accessorized barrettes and hanging, neatly organized tops. The photographs often have female models, decorated with watercolor motifs and delicate, subdued lighting.
“I think there’s so many different colors going on. With my accessories today, there’s overall a red theme, but with my art, there’s the full spectrum color, and that’s what people mention to me,” Katileena said about her art’s original look. “I’ve had people say the colors spoke to them and evoked some kind of emotion within them, too. Sometimes ones I didn’t even expect.”
Her inspiration stems from concepts and ideas close to home. “What inspires me the most is the people I’m surrounded by, but also kind of the juxtaposition of how everything today is simultaneously to kill, but also advancing out of rock or fame. Stuff that makes me uncomfortable and exploring my discomfort in my art is important, whether it’s my own discomfort within myself or my discomfort in the world,” she said.
Brands featured at the Pure Filthy Love Market, and more, will host future events to come. The organizers will announce dates for upcoming markets that will take place in March, May and throughout the summer, with many continuing in downtown Salt Lake City.
