In celebration of Hispanic Heritage month, the New Art Center is highlighting a series of Hispanic and Latino/a/x artists on our website! This is part of an ongoing series titled Art for All, in which we celebrate and recognize artists who may be underappreciated due to being part of a traditionally marginalized group. We encourage readers to continue to learn about these artists, and consider supporting those who are actively creating.
Patrick Martinez
Based in Los Angeles, Martinez is a mixed-media artist. His artwork covers topics such as racism, police brutality, reproductive rights, and other topical political subjects. He is active on Instagram as @patrick_martinez_studio
Ana Mendieta
Mid-century artist Ana Mendieta was known for her performance art, sculpture, experimental films, as well as other mediums. Her works cover themes such as feminism, connection to the earth, life, death, and violence. Today, you can find many of her works at large museums.
Ester Hernandez
Ester Hernandez is an artist whose work centers farm worker’s rights, the Chicana Feminist Movement, and other social justice themes. One of her most famous works, Sun Mad, depicts a Sun-Maid raisin box with a skeletal form instead of a living woman. She is active on her website, https://esterhernandez.com/.
Félix González-Torres
Félix González-Torres was an artist known for his conceptual art in a variety of mediums. One of his most popular series, ‘candy works’ involves a pile of candies being placed in a corner, and audience members are then encouraged to interact with the piece. Today, you can find many of his works at large museums. He also has a foundation in his name to carry out his legacy.
Justin Favela
Justin Favela’s works tend to be colorful and large, with a style reminiscent of a piñata. His works center around his identity as a queer person of color, although recently he has pivoted to imagining the future. He is active on his website, https://justinfavela.com/.
Pepón Osorio
(His work En la barbería no se llora, or No Crying Allowed in the Babershop is shown above) Known for his large-scale works, Pepón Osorio is a Puerto Rican visual artist. His works reflect his time as a social worker, and community is often a central theme. Many of his works can be found in museums located in NYC and San Juan.
James Luna
James Luna is most well known for his performance art, photography, and multimedia art. His work pushed ideas of how the public perceives Native Americans. His works are on display at museums in NYC, Olympia, WA, and other cities in the US.
Coco Fusco
Coco Fusco is a multidisciplinary artist who works in visual art, writing, and curation. Many of her most famous visual art work is based on performance art and video, in which she explores various facets of identity and power. You can find her at cocofusco.com.
Roberto Benavidez
Roberto Benavidez is a mixed-race queer artist who specializes in the piñata form. His piñata works explore such themes as sin, art, humor, and sexuality. You can find him at https://robertobenavidez.com.
