She came to the US from Argentina to sell World Cup art at Kansas City cafe
Natalia Testa has been visiting Kansas City from Buenos Aires, Argentina, since June 4. And yet, every time she walks through Café Corazón’s Crossroads doors, looping around the coffee bar and through the back room’s doorway, her heart skips a beat.
Like many artists, she never imagined that her paintings could find their way to a public showcase — let alone in a country she’s never been to, and in Kansas City, her home country of Argentina’s World Cup base camp. And what’s more, in her long-lost cousin Miel Castagna-Herrera’s coffee shop.
Adorning the “La Galeria” backroom walls are paintings of Lionel Messi kissing the FIFA World Cup trophy, a self-portrait of Testa in an Argentina jersey and a mind-bending view of Earth from space, rocketed by a soccer ball supernova. Testa loves painting eyes, and one of the pieces depicts an eyeball shattering on the impact of a silhouetted figure shooting a soccer ball at it like it’s a net.
But if it were up to her, instead of painting what she expects consumers to want, every single piece would be of her beloved Messi.
Until July 15, Argentina fans looking for community or local fanatics can view and purchase the World Cup depicted through the eyes of an artist, fútbol lover and Argentinian woman in Café Corazón at 110 Southwest Blvd.
Café Corazón is no stranger to elevating artists. Every month, they have an exhibition displayed in the “La Galeria” backroom. It’s free for the artist, and all earnings from sold paintings go right back to them. But Testa’s exhibition as a family member is extra special for Castagna-Herrera, as both her father and daughter are artists as well.
“I hope that they can see (Testa’s) passion for art, but also her passion for fútbol,” Castagna-Herrera said. “But also (I hope that people) can appreciate her style, or how she’s perceiving the World Cup through an artist’s eye. Because we don’t often mix sports and art.”
The cousins met only two years ago for the first time, when Castagna-Herrera’s father returned to his home in Buenos Aires with her. Over a glass of wine, they concocted a plan. The World Cup was coming to Kansas City in 2026, and Testa should make a set of paintings to be displayed and celebrate the occasion.
Testa said Castagna-Herrera was adamant that her new cousin come along with the paintings. Testa was apprehensive at first.
“In Argentina, people don’t really value art as much, but they value (yerba) mate,” Testa said, speaking through a translator. “(Castagna-Herrera) was all like ‘OK, well, you could come, and we’re going to have a big community here. It’s just going to be a fun atmosphere.’”
But now, she’s more than glad she came.
Testa only began delving into art as something more than doodling in 2018, when she pursued schooling for painting. Since childhood, she would pick up a pen to draw. She can’t place why, but she has always been drawn to art. But obstacles veered her away from art for years.
“I had my kids very young, and then I had a career in cosmetology and aesthetics. I did work in cosmetology very little,” Testa said.
After schooling, she opened an art studio space in her home to teach children. But because art isn’t valued as much in Argentina as the U.S., Testa said, the numbers of kids taking classes with her has been declining.
In a bittersweet turn, this gave her more time to create her World Cup paintings, which took from November 2025 until May 2026.
Normally, Testa prefers canvas for her oil paintings. But because they would weigh too much to transport to the U.S., she opted for oil-paint-friendly paper that could be framed for the final piece.
Beyond the medium of her World Cup paintings, the subjects are different from what she is often attracted to paint.
“I have painted everything, but (I prefer) more femininity and the body, and eyes,” Testa said. “It’s not the anatomy of the woman, it’s more like the femininity of the woman, the curves, the sexuality.”
A few of her sensual, feminine works are also on display for purchase at the café, separate from the World Cup display. But regardless of the subject of each painting, Testa always has one message in mind that she hopes anyone who views her work can experience.
“I always want people to see some representation of themselves in the paintings. It’s obvious that everything I want the person to see in my paintings, they’re not going to see it, and that’s OK But I hope that someone sees something in themselves in my painting, somehow — a time in their life, something they remember, emotions in their life,” Testa said. “That’s my hope.”
Testa said that only two paintings have sold so far. Castagna-Herrera points out that many international travelers have engaged with the art, but the paintings haven’t seen much local interest.
Argentinian TV news stations have reported on the exhibition, and Argentines have come to photograph and look at the paintings. In fact, one man went far enough to say that God placed his hands on him to come see Testa’s art after asking if she believed in him herself.
Even the Argentine soccer team has interacted with Testa and the display.
“One player came and said ‘I’m going to take a painting to Messi,’ but never came back,” she laughed.
Testa looks to her June 30 departure date with sadness — she will miss the comparatively calm and relaxing atmosphere of Kansas City in comparison to the bustling people and car horns of Ramos Mejía. But she’s excited to return to her children and grandchild. She said sometimes, you just have to say goodbye.
Testa hopes to be able to return sometime in the next couple of years, maybe with a new exhibition.
Castagna-Herrera hopes that locals start asking about Testa’s work before it comes of La Galeria’s walls.
“For locals, this is kind of a cool opportunity to buy a piece from a woman artist that made this show specially for the World Cup, and to commemorate that we have the World Cup in KC. It may never happen again,” she said. “It’s a once in a lifetime moment.”
And of course, Messi, if you’re reading, there’s a painting for you to pick up, too.
