10 Latinx Murals Created for Hispanic Heritage Month You’ve Got to See
Art evolves
Photo: Instagram/narth_96 & Samsung
Art evolves. From cave paintings to town square statuary, the expression of public art — how it’s consumed and crafted — constantly changes and expands. Latinx artists have always been at the forefront of public art, from Diego Rivera to the Tats Cru. Paintings reflect the landscape of the city and the mindset of the people who live there. More importantly, artwork, especially murals, is a snapshot of history. In this time of radical social and political change, it’s important to document our culture, experiences, and stories.
At HipLatina, we love sharing the very best of Latinx art from outstanding Selena murals to empowering artwork from Latinx artists. That is why, as we wrap up Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re proudly showcasing a new form of artistic composition that wasn’t crafted through traditional methods but instead by modern tools, appropriate to the digital age. The artists highlighted below used Samsung smartphones to capture their visions and share their messages with audiences worldwide.
“The curated exhibition was made to inspire and celebrate a new generation of Latinx pioneers and is a part of the brand’s work in celebrating its Galaxy creator community,” Samsung said in a statement. “The digital exhibition will be showcased in several public spaces in New York City—including Times Square, Westfield at the World Trade Center.”
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Alex Núñez
The work of Alex Núñez is a burst of life. Her vibe is reminiscent of that of Jackson Pollack and Where the Wild Things Are. According to Samsung, she is a Cuban-American mixed media painter. Her commissioned artwork is a “unique self-portrait is a collage of hieroglyphics layered on a digital photo, representing the complexities of the artist’s imagination and culture.” Núñez, an MFA graduate of Hunter College, has had numerous exhibitions all over the country, and in 2018, she won a Wavemaker Grant supported by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.
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Nathalie Bermúdez Pineda
Viewing the work of Nathalie Bermudez Pineda is like walking into a dream. Her paintings feel surreal but very much familial. The Cleveland-based artist “incorporates feminine themes as well as the indigenous art of her birthplace, Colombia.” Her commissioned artwork for Hispanic Heritage Month is a “digital painting highlights the importance of love between people, respect for nature, and embracing the divine.”
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Ludi Leiva
Ludi Leiva’s work as an artist and journalist is diverse as her background. She’s worked for Tumblr, Refinery29 Planned Parenthood, NY Congressional Election, among others. She states on her website that she “was raised in the Pacific Northwest—between Vancouver, Canada, and Seattle, Washington—to parents from completely different worlds (Canada by way of Slovakia and Guatemala, to be exact). I grew up bilingual and speak English, Spanish, French, and am currently learning German.” For this curated exhibit, Leiva states that as a “mixed-race immigrant,” she values “diverse experiences.” “In this piece, the women’s linked arms suggest that, while we may not all have the same backgrounds or beliefs, we can still find common ground.”
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Sabato Visconti
If you need to see what the future of digital art looks like, you need to experience the work of Sabato Visconti. He takes the term of new media and flips it on its head to reveal a telling look at pop culture. For his artwork that honors Hispanic Heritage Month, the São Paulo-born artist who was raised in Miami said he reconfigured traditional photography and digital media. Not only is he honoring his roots but also the family matriarch, his grandmother Odette.
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Marly Gallardo
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3rhZHuny38/
From Apple to Netflix, the gorgeous work of Marly Gallardo can be seen everywhere. She, like her artwork, is just as breathtaking. Marly Gallardo is an Ecuadorian illustrator based in New York City “who has gained international renown for her conceptual, often surreal artwork.” She was also recently featured in a campaign for H&M. For her commissioned piece she wanted to explore “the hopeful nature of her Latinx culture, which dares to look up to the sky and create its future.” The Rhode Island School of Design graduate said her aesthetic is “influenced by warm colors, humor, and minimalism.”
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Mercedes Bazan
We love anime, especially when created by a Latina. Mercedes Bazan is an Argentian, San Francisco-based graphic designer and illustrator who specializes in Japanese anime. Bazan said that for this artwork, she wanted to “create a fearless girl in the jungle. Unsure of what awaits her but excited for the adventure.” We’re unsure of the adventure as well, but we’re totally up for the unexpected ride.
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Michelle Guerrero
Michelle Guerrero — also known as MrBbaby — is an artist who understands Latin art to its core. The San Diego-based artist is inspired by her Puerto Rican-Mexican upbringing and her family. She states that by “combining vibrant colors with traditional imagery,” she can “uplift her audience and intrigue her viewers.” Her bio includes that she aims to “bring happiness and joy to her collectors and community while also having stronger messages intertwined, all of which are open to the viewer’s interpretation.” One look at her pieces, and you’ll understand quickly why her work is so inspiring. For Hispanic Heritage Month piece “focuses on a piñata she calls ‘Chucho,’ who knows he will be broken but still has a positive outlook.”
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Drigo
A modern-day take on ancient art would look a lot like the work that Eric Rodriguez, aka “Drigo,” creates. His work doesn’t just live on walls and canvases but on shoes too. He created a custom shoe for Vans that exudes his colorful style. The Dallas-based artist titled this piece for Hispanic Heritage Month “Growing Together,” and it’s is about “a man who survives in harsh environments, transmitting positive energy to the earth.” Rodriguez himself is a lot like the subjects in his work. For inspirational and positive vibes, check out his Instagram, where he provides incredible tidbits of information like this: “Lemon juice (along with other acidic fruits) brings life and energy. It helps the body get rid of years worth of abuse (Bad bacteria, mold, parasites, mucus, yeast). It also pumps your body with oxygen. It’s important to eat those live foods homies.” Love it!
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Juan Jiménez
Juan Jiménez, who goes by the street name Pincel Galactic is originally from Colombia, and is now based in New York City, creates futuristic illustrations for books, album covers, and animated videos. He has a slew of video shorts on his Instagram that are insanely trippy and worth a view and a like. This digital portrait that he created for Hispanic Heritage Month represents the “diverse experiences people have when interacting with technology in the artist’s current home.”
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Mariell Guzmán
It’s no surprise that Mariell Guzmán grew up to be an artist. As the daughter of an artist and engineer, Guzmán said that creativity “allowed her mind to wander and think about making things more innovative. The Mexico-native has work featured in various cities, on walls, t-shirts, watches, and more. She said that Mexico’s vibrancy is a huge inspiration for her, “As far as my work, I’ve always felt a great importance in color and the power of color—coming from Mexico and seeing how color really makes an impact in your everyday life and your surroundings.” For her curated piece for this piece, she “created a unique environment that suggests the struggle to translate her immigrant identity into a new culture.”
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