LaGrange artist Jaasiel Barriento stands outside the Print Shop Gallery in downtown Greenville. In three years, he has moved from being a receptionist
to managing the gallery.
J
aasiel Barriento has always tried to improve his life
based on his circumstances. The LaGrange artist,
who is also the manager of the Print Shop Gal-
lery in downtown Greenville, has always set goals and
deadlines for himself, whether it’s learning English or
becoming a professional artist.
Though he was exposed to art as a young child when
his family was in Mexico, it wasn’t until a special trip to
New York City confirmed that following his dreams to
become an artist was the right one.
Barriento grew up in Mexico, and his family came to
the U.S. in 1999 when he was 22 years old. His father
was invited to be a pastor in Laredo, Texas, and Bar-
riento was studying physics and mathematics, but it
wasn’t working out.
18 • LAGRANGE LIVING | FEB. 2020/MARCH 2020
The first step to improve Barriento’s life while in the
U.S. was when his mother invested a lot of time and
money for him to learn English. He went to regular
school and then attended another school afterward to
become fluent in English.
A year before his family came to Laredo, his broth-
er studied at LaGrange College. In 2000, he invited
Barriento and the rest of the family to his graduation.
Barriento fell in love with the area, and soon, it became
his home.
“When I came to LaGrange, he showed me West
Point Lake, and I was hooked,” he said. “In Laredo, it’s
just hot, flat, and in LaGrange — it’s just beautiful and
green and it’s great.”
The investment by his family to ensure he became