Is the artwork of Chiara Bautista Copyrighted?

Unless she's been dead for over 70 years, her works published in the USA after 1978 are copyrighted, assuming they had proper copyright notice or registration prior to 1989. In most other countries, copyright doesn't require any such formalities and the copyright lasts for 50 to 95 years, depending upon where you get sued.

Yes, you can ask for permission. I would start by phoning or emailing her at the number and email listed in the Arizona Daily Star, or via Facebook. Or look her up in the Tucson phone book.

All artwork is copyright protected from the moment of creation without any requirement of registration. But there are also exemptions with in the law for personal use, reviews, education, and others that involve limited copying without distribution.

Of course it is.