Artists to Share with your Students during Hispanic Heritage Month

September 15 marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month. This month is a good reminder to explore the rich artistic traditions found across Latin America.  I also like to do some class discussions using Visual Thinking Strategies or VTS using artworks from these artists. I made this slideshow you can use with your students for VTS. 

Some themes to explore with students in relation to these artists: 

• Converging Cultures
• Migration
• Social Movements/Activism
• Identity / Heritage
• Traditions/Family
• Colonialism and its impacts 

César A. Martínez
Born 1944 in Laredo, Texas. Prominent member of the Chicano arts movement.  Studied at what was then called Texas A&I College, and later Texas A&I University. While a student he became involved in the Chicano movement for civil rights. He is currently based in San Antonio, Texas.
His work is known for his figurative works of solitary figures painted in vivid colors. Well known for his Bato/Pachuco/Ruca series.
(from cesaramartinez.com)
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Carmen Lomas Garza 
​Born in 1948 in Kingsville, Texas. Inspired by her parent’s activism with the American G.I. Forum, Garza joined the Chicano Movement of the 1960s and 1970s. She is a graduate of the Texas Arts & Industry University, Juarez-Lincoln/Antioch Graduate School, and San Francisco State University where she earned her M.A. in 1981. 
Her narrative paintings depict her memories of everyday life and traditions growing up in a Mexican-American family.   (from carmenlomasgarza.com)

Ester Hernandez
Ester Hernandez was born in California’s San Joaquin Valley to a Mexican/Yaqui farm worker family. The UC Berkeley graduate is an internationally acclaimed San Francisco-based visual artist. She is best known for her depiction of Latina/Native women through her pastels, prints and installations. Her work reflects social, political, ecological and spiritual themes.
​(from esterhernandez.com)

Gaspar Enriquez
Enriquez was born in 1942 in the El Segundo Barrio neighborhood of El Paso, Texas. He attended the University of Texas at El Paso, graduating with a bachelor's degree in arts education. He then went on to attend New Mexico State University, where he studied metalwork and graduated with a master's degree.
He is known for his striking acrylic airbrush portraits. 
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Charles "Chaz" Bojórquez
is a Chicano graffiti artist and painter who is known for his work in Cholo-style calligraphy. He is credited with bringing the Chicano and Cholo graffiti style into the established art scene. He began his art career by tagging in his neighborhood of Highland Park, Los Angeles in the early 1970s. He received formal art training at University of Guadalajara for Art, California State University, and Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles
(from wikipedia)

Wayne Alaniz Healy
​Born 1946 grew up in East Los Angeles, where political events in the 1960s stimulated his commitment to execute socially and culturally relevant public art.
Known for his murals and scenes of Chicano life and traditions. 

Juan Fuentes​
​Born: Artesia, New Mexico 1950
Juan R. Fuentes is a graduate of San Francisco State University. He has taught at the Mission Campus/City College SF, the California College of the Arts, Oakland CA and was visiting faculty at the San Francisco Art Institute’s print department. Juan was also director of Mission Grafica at the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts.
Inspired by the Chicano Movement Juan has dedicated his art as a cultural activist to supporting and being part of a global movement for social change. His silkscreen posters and relief prints have addressed many issues as they relate to communities of color, social justice, racism, and international struggles for liberation. (from juanfuentes.com)