Artist Biography

Even during my early years I remember being interested in Art. As a child I would often sketch architectural designs and other types of illustrations. I was born and raised in Brownsville, Texas. After completing two years of basic studies at Texas Southmost College, I transferred to The University of Texas at Austin. I studied architecture two years.

In 1983, I moved to Houston to pursue a career in drafting. My experience with drafting developed into an interest for furniture manufacturing which led to self employment; designing and creating custom furniture and art.

Being an artist full-time proved to be a great challenge full of peaks and valleys. Early on, work that was commissioned focused my creative talent on religious subjects, basically crosses, and introduced me to Folk Art.

I currently manage my own design company. My focus now is in home accessories, specifically desk and floor lamps, and creating art. My current work continues to embody the richness and splendors of my Mexican-American culture. Of course, my influences are many, my goal is to mesh all these impressions into something fresh and new.

EXHIBITIONS

1996 - Imprint - Barbara Davis Gallery/Pennzoil Place
invitational ,Houston,Tx.

East End Artist Call and Respond - Museum of Fine Art of Houston, invitational, Houston, Tx.

THE OPEN SHOW '96 - The Art League, juried by Alvia Wardlaw, Houston, Tx.

EL QUINTO SOL ; Xicano/a Perspectives - O'Kane Gallery, University of Houston-Downtown, Houston ,Tx.

BUCKING THE TEXAN MYTH - Scouting the Third Frontier
juried exhibition, Austin Museum of Art, Laguna Gloria, Austin, Tx.

BIG SHOW - Lawndale Art & Performance Center
juried exhibition, Houston, Tx.

RASQUACHE - Purse Building Studios Main
Gallery, Two Man Exhibit, Houston, Texas
June 1996.

' ESPIRITUALISMO MESTIZO- La Peña, Austin, Tx.

NO TWO ALIKE - Group Show, Purse Building
Studios Main Gallery, Houston Tx. Curated by Billie Otten.

SANGRE MESTIZA- Recent Works, Casa Ramirez Folk Art &
Gallery, Houston, Tx.

HOUSTON AREA EXHIBITION , Blaffer Gallery
University of Houston- Juried Exhibition, Houston, Tx.

1995 -RECYCLED : Constructions - Purse Building Studios
Main Gallery , Houston , Tx. - One Man Exhibition.

' Presencia Hispana - The Work of Six Contemporary Houston Artists
The Art Institute of Houston , Tx.

CROSSINGS - A Cross Exhibition by Texas Artists,
Purse Building Studios Main Gallery, Houston, Tx.

1994 -Imagenes de la Virgen de Guadalupe (Images of The Virgin of Guadalupe) Casa Ramirez Folk Art & Gallery, Houston, Tx.

The Heights Exhibition , Lambert Hall in the Heights, Houston, Tx.

Cruses y Milagros , Casa Ramirez Folk Art & Gallery
Houston, Tx. One Man Exhibition

Amores ; Sangre y Vida , ArteVivo at Galeria Ramos,
Houston, Tx.

1993 -Our Lady of Guadalupe , ArteVivo & Arte Americas,
Houston, Tx.

Dia de los Muertos Retablo Exhibition ,
Lawndale Art Center, Houston, Tx.

Dia de los Muertos Shrine Exhibition, Dewey-Owens Gallery
Santa Fe, New Mexico

Beyond The Dream- Dia de los Muertos Exhibition,
La Pena, Austin, Tx.

Dia de los Muertos Exhibition, ArteVivo & Arte Americas
Houston, Tx.

Contemporary Art Furniture Exhibition ,
Artera Gallery Houston, Tx.

1992 -Our Lady of Guadalupe Exhibition,
Arte Americas at Jung Center, Houston, Tx.

Dia de los Muertos Retablo Exhibition ,
Lawndale Art Center, Houston, Tx.

Alpha 2 Omega ,
Texas Arts, Houston, Tx.

EDUCATION

1979 - 82 Studied Architecture at the University of Texas
at Austin, Austin, Texas. (2 years)

1979 Associates of Science Degree, Texas Southmost College, Brownsville, Texas

1977 High School Diploma, James Pace High School,
Brownsville, Texas

PUBLISHED

Carol Nace, "Crossing Artistic Bounds," A.R.T.E. - Artists Relating Together & Exhibiting , Fall (1994); p.4

Catherine D. Anspon, "The Magic of Found Objects "
Public News, 17 July 1996, p.6.

Catherine D. Anspon, "Dia De Los Muertos - Lawndale's Lively Version of Death's Remembrance," Public News , 30 October 1996, p.16-17.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

The Art League of Houston (96-98)
Artist Director .

Co-Founder of ARTEVIVO-LATINOS CREATING ART ;
An association of Latino Artists, founded in 1993, served as treasurer and Exhibition Organizer.

Panelist for Cultural Arts Council of Houston/Harris County -
1996-97 General Assistance Program; Community Arts Assistance.