Rebecca is the creative force behind Stage and Skulls, a Menifee-based art business that has quickly become a special guest at quite a few of Southern California’s Day of the Dead festivals.
Rebecca is an artist who brings out new identities, crafting the extravagant headdresses and La Catrina outfits that turn ordinary people into walking icons of Mexican folklore.
Sitting down with her, I realized quickly that this isn’t just a craft project. It’s a reclamation.
We discussed her journey from a disconnected childhood to becoming a beacon of tradition, and how a local artist in Menifee has created something that is about to reach a historic storefront in Old Town San Diego.
A Childhood Disconnected from Heritage
To understand the vibrance of Rebecca’s current work, you have to understand the silence of her earlier years.
As we settled into our conversation, I asked her about her introduction to Mexican culture.
“I didn’t have the opportunity to explore my heritage,” she told me. “In my family, we didn’t see art as an occupation. So I mostly kept it to myself until I got older.”
She knew her roots were there, but they felt inaccessible, like a language she hadn’t been taught to speak. The colorful, boisterous, and deeply spiritual traditions of Día de los Muertos were things she saw from a distance, perhaps in books or movies, but not in her living room.
This disconnection didn’t push her away from her heritage, instead she discovered a strong hunger to explore it.
She wasn’t just looking for a hobby; she was looking for a purpose. It wasn’t until she became a young adult that she began sharing her drawings and creativity with the world.
Building a Legacy in Family Life
Art rarely happens in a vacuum, especially when you are a parent. Rebecca’s journey into the world of La Catrina coincided with building her own family life here in Menifee.
I asked her how her family views her work now. The contrast between her childhood and her children’s upbringing is stark.
“I wanted it to be different for them,” she said, “and if they decide they don’t like art, that’s totally fine, but they have the option.”
Rebecca told me she is about to celebrate her 18th wedding anniversary with her husband, and they have raised two daughters together. She told me that as she realized her girls had grown up, she decided it was time to pursue her passion for art.
The Art of Stage and Skulls
We shifted gears to talk about the work itself. I wanted to know about the transition from “interested in culture” to “professional crown maker.”
Note: La Catrina, the elegant skeletal lady originally etched by José Guadalupe Posada, is the most recognizable symbol of Day of the Dead. She represents the idea that death comes for everyone, rich or poor, so we might as well dress up for it.
To Rebecca, this is the focal point of her adventures. She attends and helps decorate for many festivals around the Inland Empire, including the Menifee Day of the Dead festival this past year.
She doesn’t go alone, though. Rebecca mentioned that the mariachi beside her in all her pictures is her father. “He’s always supported me and encouraged me along the way.” She said to me. “He lets me paint his face, he wears the outfits, and he loves supporting me.”
Launching Her Business
The leap from artist to business owner is where many talented people stumble. For Rebecca, the transition to launching Stage and Skulls was driven by demand.
“For months I felt empty, and I didn’t know why,” she said. “So one day I decided to quit my job.”
She began vending at local Day of the Dead festivals. Anyone who has attended these events knows they are sensory overload with music, food, and dancing.
To stand out as a vendor, you need something visual. Rebecca’s booth became a destination because her product is so three-dimensional. You can see her crowns from across the crowd.
“The festivals were the testing ground,” she explained. “That’s where I learned what people connect with. And I sell different things in different cities, not every city is the same.”
That’s when Rebecca revealed to me that she will soon be selling her crowns in a storefront in Old Town San Diego. This is a massive milestone.
Old Town is arguably the epicenter of Mexican heritage tourism in the region. It is a place steeped in history and attracts visitors from all over the world who are specifically looking for authentic, high-quality cultural art.
For a Menifee artist to stake a claim in the competitive Old Town market is significant. It speaks to the quality of her work and her tenacity. She is proving that you don’t have to live in a big city to create art that resonates on a large stage.
A Cultural Bridge
As I packed up my notes, the thought struck me that Rebecca Salazar is doing exactly what art is supposed to do: she is connecting the past to the present.
She started as a child looking in from the outside, wondering where she fit into her own heritage. Now, she is the one building the door for others to walk through.
Whether it’s a customer in Old Town San Diego buying their first Catrina crown, or her own family watching her work, she is making the culture accessible, tangible, and beautiful.
For Menifee residents, Rebecca Salazar is a reminder that our community is full of hidden depth. We often look to Los Angeles or San Diego for culture, but sometimes, the most vibrant art is being created in a small home studio down the street.
If you are planning to visit Old Town soon, check out Tienda de Reyes, where Rebecca’s work will be on display. But remember, you saw it here in Menifee first.
You can follow her on Instagram at the link below.
