|
Recordando y celebrando a los que han pasado Remembering and Celebrating Those Who Have Passed Exhibit Dates: October 25 – November 30, 2025 Altar Honoring Flaco Jimenez & Other Tejano Musicians by Humberto Delgado Live Music by Juan y Armando Tejeda This annual exhibition honors the rich cultural traditions of Día de los Muertos through art that celebrates memory, ancestry, and the continuity of life. Participating artists will present works inspired by this beloved Mexican holiday and by the legacy of printer and cartoonist José Guadalupe Posada, whose iconic skeletal figures offered both humor and social commentary on his times. Curated by Dolores Garcia, the exhibition invites the community to reflect, remember, and celebrate those who have passed through the powerful lens of contemporary art. |
Participating Artists
|
Alondra Acosta
Jayehl “Jay” Aguero JC Amorrortu Kimberly Bishop Ana Borne Chloe Canales Cecilia Colomé Humberto Delgado Courtney Enriquez Sandra C. Fernandez |
Rebel Fitz
Angela Azucena Garcia Azucena Suzy Garcia Ilza J. García Mary Jane Garza Naxieli Gomez Luis Guerra Luis Gutierrez Dr. Osa Hidalgo de la Riva Charles T. Jones Laura Atlas Kravitz |
Victor Lee Cantú III
Esmeralda C. Lopez J. Salvador Lopez Carlos Lowry Yleana Martinez Fernando Muñoz Anna Salinas Cecilia Sanchez-Duarte Liliana Wilson Jaime “GERMS” Zacarias |
|
¡Viva La Música Tejana!
by Humberto Delgado An Ofrenda Honoring Leonardo “Flaco” Jiménez and the Legends of Tejano Music “¡Viva La Música Tejana!” celebrates the rhythm, heart, and legacy of Tejano music through the life and passion of one of its most beloved icons, Leonardo “Flaco” Jiménez. This ofrenda pays tribute not only to Flaco’s pioneering spirit and love for the accordion, but also to the generations of Tejano musicians whose voices and melodies continue to echo through our communities. At the center of the installation stands a handmade accordion crafted from cardboard and wrapping paper—an offering of creativity and reverence that reflects both Flaco’s artistry and the humble, yet powerful, origins of Tejano sound. Surrounding the piece, three guitars and two cowboy hats frame the visual rhythm of the altar, evoking dance halls, family gatherings, and the deep connection between music and identity in Mexican-American culture. Two radiant bursts of color illuminate and flank the accordion, symbolizing the everlasting light of those who have departed but whose music endures—Emilio Navaira, Lydia Mendoza, Valerio Longoria, Steve Jordan, Selena, and many more who shaped the soundtrack of our heritage and the moments of struggle, pain and achievements in our lives. This ofrenda balances traditional Día de los Muertos symbolism—honor, remembrance, and love—with a contemporary artistic sensibility. It stands as both a cultural homage and an artistic expression: a reminder that through music, our stories never fade, and our ancestors forever dance in the rhythm of our hearts. Humberto Delgado Humberto Delgado is a Mexican-born artist and cultural advocate from Aguascalientes, Mexico. After immigrating to South Bend, Indiana as a teenager, he pursued his education with determination and a deep sense of purpose—earning an associate degree in Architectural Design from Ivy Tech Community College, a double bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Visual Arts from Holy Cross College, and a Master’s in Nonprofit Administration from the University of Notre Dame. He currently serves as Deputy Director and Director of Youth Programs at La Casa de Amistad, a youth and community center in South Bend that empowers Latino and immigrant families through education, leadership, and cultural enrichment. Humberto’s journey as a young immigrant and his desire to stay connected to his roots have profoundly shaped his creative voice. His artistic work is a bridge between heritage and identity—drawing from personal experience, community stories, and the beauty of Mexican tradition. Whether through visual art, writing, or dance, his work celebrates Latino culture in all its vibrancy while also inviting reflection on the challenges and triumphs of his community. For Humberto, art is both expression and advocacy—a way to honor his past, uplift his people, and remind others that culture is not only to be remembered, but to be lived. |
|
|
Alondra Acosta
No me temas 2018 Oil and Acrylic on Canvas 14” x 14“ My work reflects on identity, culture, and transformation — celebrating resilience and the beauty that endures beyond loss. Alondra Acosta is a multidisciplinary artist and designer from Puerto de Veracruz, Mexico, based in Texas. Currently pursuing a BFA in Communication Design and Studio Art at Texas State University, her work bridges painting, identity, and visual storytelling. Through expressive color and layered symbolism, she explores cultural memory, resilience, and transformation. Acosta’s practice moves fluidly between fine art and design, creating bold visual narratives that connect emotion, heritage, and form. |
|
Jayehl “Jay” Aguero
¡Vive! 2025 Oil on canvas 11” x 14” “Alguien me habló todos los días de mi vida al oído, despacio, lentamente. Me dijo: ¡Vive, vive, vive! Era la muerte.” Jaime Sabines. "Del mito" La señal, 1951 Jay is a first-generation Mexican-American queer artist who uses oil paint to explore the intersection of his heritage, identity, and queerness. Through bold color and intimate imagery, he reflects the complexities of navigating life as a queer person in a bicultural world. His work celebrates both his Mexican roots and the nuances of self-expression, creating art that bridges communities and cultures. By using his art as a tool for connection and understanding, Jay aims to spark conversations about identity, representation, and love. |
|
|
JC Amorrortu
Death (Tarot Card) 2024 Oils on wood 9" x 12" My work is figurative in nature, mixing realism, surrealism & impressionism. My main medium is oil paint because it allows me to create a wide range of styles that will last for centuries to come. My main sources of inspiration are pop culture, the past, the present, the future, life experiences, and the subconscious. J.C. Amorrortu is a Peruvian-American contemporary figurative painter based in Austin, TX. Inspired by the ideals of Classical art and the fast-paced visuals of modern life, JC’s paintings explore the idea of creating a deep visual connection between the traditional and the modern. Among his figurative works, he also focuses on painting portraits. JC specializes in creating paintings that require a deeper look; they are not only technical, but also emotional. Technique and meaning are mixed to create a powerful work of art. Creating art for him is a very spiritual practice that allows him to connect with deeper parts of himself. JC was selected as one of the top 20 emerging artists by a prestigious Art gallery in Austin. His work is in many private collections in the US, South America & Europe. |
|
Kimberly Bishop
In Memory of My Voice 2025 Lithograph, relief print, giclee of an acrylic painting self-portrait, collage with thread on paper 14" x 14" Kim Bishop, MFA/MA, is a nationally exhibited artist who has been working from her San Antonio, Texas-based studio for the past 22 years. Bishop holds a Master of Fine Arts in Contemporary Drawing and Painting from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Her latest public art piece is Poet’s Pointe, and she is a co-founder of A3, a pop-up industrial street press, while being a mentor for the New York Foundation for the Arts Immigrant Artist program and Assistant Director for the Young Artist programs at UTSA. She is the co-producer for the first Chican@ Art Curriculum book sponsored by the Department of Education and Centro Cultural Aztlan in 2024. Her mission is to socially engage audiences in the process of art making to create a healthier world. |
|
Ana Borne
Mi Catrina 2025 Mixed Media Assemblage Ana Born is a Guatemalan-born artist who likes to mix it up. My art is not constrained by the medium, rather, the medium is dictated by the inspiration. Sometimes it works. |
|
|
Chloe Canales
Celebrate Goodbyes 2024 Oil paint on birchwood As a second-generation Mexican American living in South Texas, I am constantly wavering between who I am, where I come from, and where I am going. This wavering and shifting identity is something I navigate through my artwork. I imagine my artwork as a visual representation of the stories and traditions that have been passed down in my region of origin for centuries. This piece is my way of paying homage to loved ones who have passed on, but are always remembered and celebrated. |
|
Cecilia Colomé
The Kiss of Death 2025 Oil on canvas 12" x 12" The Kiss of Death is a beautiful sculpture in the Poblenou Cemetery in Barcelona, Spain, and it is probably one of the most iconic works of funerary art. The Llaudet family commissioned this exquisite marble sculpture to decorate the tomb of their son, who tragically died at a young age. For me, this tomb is very special for two reasons: first, because of its extraordinary beauty, and second, because it does not contain religious iconography. Instead, it immortalizes the relationship between life and death using a universal language. These two reasons were my inspiration to create this painting in honor of all our dead. Cecilia Colomé lives and works in Austin. She creates paintings with oil on canvas, as well as watercolor and gouache on paper and panels. She is also a printmaker, including intaglio, lithography, and linocuts. She is currently working on oil paintings of a large-format series of trees, and an ongoing series of watercolors on paper of ceremonial Mexican danzantes. Cecilia is very happy to continue to be a student, currently at Austin Community College. |
|
|
Courtney Enriquez
La Calavera de Loteria 2025 Mixed Media Known as the “Loteria Lady” I use traditional Loteria de Don Clemente to bring people together, start conversations, and add a new twist to the Loteria. |
|
Sandra C. Fernandez
Se hace camino al andar Etching, chine colé, thread drawings 8 x 10 in. Our lives are made up of countless moments, each leaving an imprint in the mind. Some memories—of those we love, of what we’ve lived—burn brighter than others, standing out amid the static of everyday life. This piece captures that tension: a skull filled with small drawings that surface like fragments of memory, surrounded by restless, tangled stitching that embodies the noise and chaos that both obscure and bind our experiences. On the Day of the Dead, we are invited to walk those inner paths again, tracing the memories that continue to make us who we are. |
|
|
Rebel Fitz
Ofrenda de la Danza 2025 Oil on Canvas 12" x 12" This piece explores the intersection of beauty and mortality through the language of dance. As a contemporary dancer, I am drawn to the discipline and grace of performance, but also its ephemerality. By pairing delicate symbols - a tutu, ballet slippers, and a crown, with the stark presence of a skull, I reflect on the fleeting nature of life, memory, and art itself. The work stands as both a ritual homage to artistic devotion and a meditation on impermanence. Rebel Fitz is a multi-disciplinary artist whose practice flows between oil painting, contemporary dance, and woodworking, depending on where life pulls her. Her work is rooted in curiosity and personal reflection, often shaped by the stories, emotions, and transformations she’s moving through in the moment. Drawn to the lines, curves, and softness of the female figure, Rebel uses it as a recurring motif to explore beauty, vulnerability, and strength. |
|
|
Angela Azucena Garcia
You Still Follow Me / Todavía Me Sigues 2025 Acrylic on Canvas 12” x 12” Poppy was my 15-year-old rescue chihuahua that passed away in April of 2025. She was my soul dog. Poppy was frequently ill and understandably needy. Caring for her taught me so much about life and how to appreciate it deeply. In my grief, I decided to paint Poppy's ofrenda. In Poppy's ofrenda, I arranged her favorite treats and things amongst traditional offerings such as Pan de Muerto, marigolds, and candles. Although my Poppy has departed this realm, our souls remain intertwined. I sense her presence when I feel a strong gust of wind, and when I look at the sunset, I look for her shape in the clouds. I know that she's around when there's something delicious cooking in the kitchen. I know she still follows me. Angela is a Chicana visual artist working in digital design and painting, with a focus on emotional storytelling, memory, and cultural tradition. She is an emerging artist born in Austin and currently living/working in the area as a digital designer and muralist. |
|
|
Azucena Suzy Garcia
Tertulia Nocturna 2025 14" x 14" Acrylic on canvas Tertulia Nocturna depicts Frida Kahlo and Chavela Vargas as they share a mezcalito at a Mexican cemetery on Día de los Muertos. It invites the viewer to ponder on the topic of their plasticas, perhaps the current state of affairs with Mexico's first woman president, the United States' political turmoil, or the migration of immigrants to North America. |
|
|
Ilza J. García
Portales 2025 Mixed Media (Acrylic, Collage) When the veil between life and muerte is thin, we can guide our ancestors to us with intention, presenting them with bright cempasúchil, velas, and the very gifts they shared with us. In this cuadro, I join my abuelitas outside of time and space with cafecito and empanadas made in their memory, discussing the cards that la vida has dealt me. As we play poker and "treinta y uno," Abuelita Lupe shows me how sometimes the game needs to be changed, imparting the strength to create my own rules as she did. Abuelita Toña passes to me her wisdom of discernment, reminding me to enjoy the fleeting joys of motherhood in the face of life's trials. The altar sits on a tree that once stood in the Sanchez Elementary playground, long before the school and any of us existed. Ilza is a Chicana mother, artist, and writer living in Austin, Texas. She represents her love for ancestral gifts and generational healing through visual and written works that capture the stories of her life, community, and the joyful moments of motherhood. She holds a Master's of Fine Arts in Fiction Writing and a Master's in Bilingual and Bicultural Education. |
|
Mary Jane Garza
Ojo de Diosa #8 2025 Mixed repurposed materials 12” x 14” My latest work explores the use of repurposed materials and draws on my interest in various esoteric belief systems to create pieces that invite contemplation and inner reflection. |
|
|
Naxieli Gomez
Siempre conmigo Oil on wood 6” x 6” “Siempre conmigo” is a quiet reflection on presence, memory, and gratitude. The floating cloud drifts across an endless blue sky, carrying the energy of those I’ve loved and lost. It honors the people who are no longer here but remain part of my everyday life; unseen yet ever present. When I look up, I take a deep breath and feel their presence in the vastness of the sky around me. This work is both an offering and a reminder that love continues to move, transform, and live with us. |
|
|
Luis Guerra
All Souls’ Day 2025 Inkjet print and watercolor on paper 12.5” x 13” The original of this work is an ink-on-paper illustration for a print ad that I crafted in 1975, and which appeared in Texas Monthly. It portrays Día de los Muertos as a joyous, vibrant expression of Mexican life and culture. This artwork is also an homage to the great Mexican printmaker José Guadalupe Posada, best known for his calaveras. Luis Guerra is a painter, sculptor, and storyteller who currently divides his time between Austin and Laredo, Texas. He is a recipient of several awards, among them a Siqueiros-Pollock Award from the Museo de Arte de Ciudad Juárez, Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes, and an Award of Excellence for Lifetime Achievement from Austin’s Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center. His artwork is in various collections, including that of the Blanton Museum of Art, in Austin, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum, in Washington, D.C. His artwork has also been featured in numerous publications, including Contemporary Chicana and Chicano Art, the definitive two-volume work published by Bilingual Press. His stories have appeared in a variety of publications, and for two decades he narrated his Cuentos de la Sierra on NPR’s Latino USA. |
|
Luis Gutierrez
Micthécatl 2025 Archival Inkjet Print 24”x24” |
|
|
Dr. Osa Hidalgo de la Riva
MuXerista Magic 2025 Collage 13"x13" Mama Lola crossed over the next world we know so little of, a few moons ago. I know she is in good hands, reunited with her two older sisters now, my Aunt Lucy, who passed this year, and 95 years young, and with my Tia Celia, aka Uncle Bill (an insider's joke). These three sisters are now reunited with mi abuelita Angela dela Riva. In this XicanX magical portal, they Rest In Power and play within our MuXerista Magic. Filmmaker Dr. Osa Hidalgo de la Riva received her Ph.D. from the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts in the Critical Studies Division. She taught an American Cultures course, Ethnicity and Race in Contemporary Film, at the University of California-Berkeley from 2008-2013. In 2012, she was the recipient of the Chancellor’s Public Scholar Award from UC-Berkeley’s Ethnic Studies Department. Her film Mujeria: The Olmeca Rap premiered at the Kabuki Theater in San Francisco; Mujeria: Primitive and Proud debuted at the Roxie I, SF. Both attracted capacity audiences and were distributed by Women Make Movies, NY. Two Spirits: Native Lesbians and Gay Men is distributed by Third World Newsreel, NY. In 2007, her animation artwork Las Olmecas was included in 500 Years of Chicana Women’s History, edited by Elizabeth Martinez. “Dr. Eagle Bear” has lectured and spoken at numerous film festivals, seminars, community centers, and universities throughout California, as well as nationally, in Mexico, Canada, and Europe. |
|
Charles T. Jones
A King of Sorts 2025 Paper maché with wood, paper and acrylic paint Originally based on a drawing, it took on a life of its own during the transition from 2D to 3D. Once the face became personal, the work began to reflect that. You can visit artwanted.com/chastxpoet for a better overview |
|
|
Laura Atlas Kravitz
Flores Que Quedaron (Flowers That Remained) 2025 Acrylic on Art Board and repurposed thrifted frame 8” x 10” This work reflects how those we lose continue to live within us. The skeleton blooms from the inside, its flowers growing from memory and love that refuse to fade. Flores Que Quedaron speaks to the quiet ways presence lingers. Even in absence, the people we’ve loved keep shaping the life that remains. Austin artist and Texas native Laura Atlas Kravitz creates paintings that capture the quiet, beautiful moments we often overlook. Blending Fauvism’s bold color with Impressionist softness, her work reflects themes of memory, love, and everyday grace. Originally a corporate attorney in Boston, Laura returned to Texas to serve in public life near the Capitol - experiences that subtly inform her sense of place and perspective. What began as a pandemic act of self-care evolved into Lollies Follies Studio, where her art continues to celebrate connection, reflection, and the traces we leave behind. |
|
Esmeralda C. Lopez
Essential Moonlight 2025 Mixed Medium 16”W x 20”H Ever-present in the world around me, I draw inspiration from the depths of my soul, breathing life into my innermost feelings. I revel in conjuring the essence of places I've wandered and ideas I've cherished, stirring emotions within the hearts of others. Esmeralda C. Lopez-Renta, a self-taught mixed media artist from Fort Worth, Texas, has been creating art for over two decades. Her diverse body of work includes mixed media paintings, paper crafts, and fabric art. She draws inspiration from her travels and profound emotional experiences. Esmeralda's creations have been featured at La Pena Gallery in Austin, TX |
Victor Lee Cantú III
Muerte Bella Mixed Media Death is a beauty in all Life and Death are precious and gorgeous. |
J. Salvador Lopez
Mom, Guadalupe Campos López 2025 Mixed media on canvas 9” x 12” Image of my mother in loving memory. |
J. Salvador Lopez
Bide Your Time Wisely
Acrylic on canvas
Triptych
I interpret God’s presence through variations of visual abstractions, such as the usage of liminal spaces, a word or a group of words, a diagram(s), and mathematical symbols/formulas. These exemplify an anchor to the visual narrative that personifies a definition of works created. A figure’s dress attire, namely suits, are not meant to epitomize a corporate lifestyle, but to represent individuals prepared for the elaborate ordeals life has to offer. The briefcase, purse, or backpack symbolizes baggage containing the history of their personal lives. Angelic figures may not be depicted in their traditional “winged image” form, but fulfill the same duties. Though participants may be depicted together or separately, they are central to those dreams/visions and respectively personify a lost soul mate and seek salvation from the fruition of life.
Bide Your Time Wisely
Acrylic on canvas
Triptych
I interpret God’s presence through variations of visual abstractions, such as the usage of liminal spaces, a word or a group of words, a diagram(s), and mathematical symbols/formulas. These exemplify an anchor to the visual narrative that personifies a definition of works created. A figure’s dress attire, namely suits, are not meant to epitomize a corporate lifestyle, but to represent individuals prepared for the elaborate ordeals life has to offer. The briefcase, purse, or backpack symbolizes baggage containing the history of their personal lives. Angelic figures may not be depicted in their traditional “winged image” form, but fulfill the same duties. Though participants may be depicted together or separately, they are central to those dreams/visions and respectively personify a lost soul mate and seek salvation from the fruition of life.
|
Yleana Martinez
El huipil llorón/The Weeping Huipil 2025 Argentium sterling silver, 24-karat gold, aquamarine briolettes. Hand-forged, fused, stamped. Pendant measures 2" x 2", overall necklace length is 24" For Dia de los Muertos 2025, this pendant celebrates the Mayan women who loom, embroider, and wear handmade huipiles. Stamped motifs of death, loss, and sin mimic the embroidered images on a huipil; eyes along the hem emit aquamarine tears. My appreciation for this centuries-old needle art is reflected in the chain, meant to emulate a common embroidery technique, the "chainstitch.” Yleana Martínez works in various media, primarily in precious metals and gemstones, to create statement art jewelry. |
|
|
Carlos Lowry
Tongolele (1932-2025) 2025 Acrylic on canvas 12” x 12" I choose to honor Yolanda Montes, better known by her stage name Tongolele, a Mexican–American cabaret dancer, ballerina, and actress. At the time of her death, she was one of the last surviving stars from the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema. Born in Dallas, Texas in 1953, Carlos left for Chile before the age of two. He remained in Chile until 1974, the year after the military coup. He now resides in Austin. Carlos studied art at Southwestern University and graduated with a BFA in Studio Art. After working as a graphic designer in Dallas, he moved to Austin, and joined Interart-Public Art as a muralist. He painted several local murals, including the Varsity Theatre Mural. He also has designed covers for small press books, punk record album jackets, and many political posters and flyers. Carlos worked 28 years for the Austin Public Library. |
|
Fernando Muñoz
The Vessel 2025 Prismacolor pencil on pastel paper 9” x 7” This piece reflects on humans as vessels, carrying dreams and memories through time. Masks appear as symbols of how we adapt—sometimes to align with societal expectations, other times to shield ourselves. The illuminated window offers a glimpse inward, suggesting that beneath what is concealed, there is always something luminous waiting to be seen. |
|
Anna Salinas
The blue ghost 2025 Oil on canvas 8”W x 10”H Anna Lilia Salinas was born in Alice, a small South Texas town. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1986 and continued on to obtain a Master of Science in Bilingual Education in 1992 from Texas A&M University in Kingsville, Texas. Upon completing her education, she moved to Austin, Texas. Salinas recently retired as a dual language Kindergarten teacher with Austin ISD. Recent work includes a mural at Chicano Park ( 2020), Xicanx exhibit at the MOA in Vancouver, Canada ( 2022-2023), and a mural at Montopolis Practice Fields (2024) and a current mural she is working on at a local restaurant. |
|
|
Cecilia Sanchez-Duarte
La Catrina de la China 2023 Serigrafía/Silkscreen Edición Limitada sobre papel Guarro Super Alfa 25cm x 25cm I consider her my Day of the Dead "Calaverita" (profile) for her laughter, and also as my visual epitaph. All of this, in conjunction with La Catrina or Garbancera, was created by José Guadalupe Posada. Just like her, and despite our hats or clothes, we are all bones. In the face of life and death, in the most intimate part of our being, we are all the same, and we all end up as bones. |
|
Liliana Wilson
Su Dolor 2025 Color pencil and acrylic on paper 14”W by 14”H This drawing depicts a young girl in her journey of accepting the loss of a beloved. The boat transports her through the process of trying to understand death, its painful aspects and its inherent lessons. Liliana Wilson is a visual artist best known for her intricate drawings with surrealistic renderings. She was born in Valparaíso, Chile. Liliana emigrated to the United States in 1977. She subsequently pursued studies in art at Texas State University. Liliana’s history of artistic expressions is the subject of a book edited by Dr. Norma E. Cantú titled Ofrenda: Liliana Wilson’s Art of Dissidence and Dreams (Texas A & M Press, 2015) |
|
Jaime “GERMS” Zacarias
A la Floating Frida Giclée. Hahnemühle 100% cotton white smooth Photo Rag, 308 gsm 11” x 14” with 16” x 20” Black Oval Matte Edition: 20 signed/numbered Artist’s Proofs: 5 signed/numbered Total Authenticated Edition: 25 |
|
Music by Juan y Armando Tejeda
Humberto Delgado's Ofrenda
Opening Reception
