Norman Avila
Norman Avila is a multimedia artist, musician, and performance artist from San Antonio, Texas who graduated from Trinity University with a B.A. in Art in 1974.
Avila was born in Mexico City and his family moved to San Antonio when he was a child. Avila attended Jefferson High School and after graduation attended San Antonio College (SAC) from 1970 to 1972. During his time at SAC, Avila studied art with Chicano artist, activist, and professor Mel Casas (1929-2014) and participated in a performance group called Ki-Flow Turtle. Avila transferred to Trinity University where he exhibited his work on Trinity’s campus including his senior exhibition titled Art From the Pulp in 1974. Avila notes the influence of professors Mel Casas (SAC) and Robert Tiemann (Trinity) on his artistic development during this time.
Together with George Horner and Don Evans (Trinity alumnus), Avila started the San Antonio Museum of Modern Art (SAMOMA) which lasted from 1976 to 1979. SAMOMA spanned two locations and featured numerous exhibitions, musical performances, and movie screenings. While running SAMOMA, Avila taught at Gus Garcia Middle School in San Antonio. Avila was also an original member of the iconic San Antonio garage rock band Los #2 Dinners who performed for the first time at SAMOMA in June 1979.
After his time at Gus Garcia, Norman worked at a family owned pawn shop while still performing music and showing his work in San Antonio.Avila continues to be an active member of the San Antonio art community, most recently showing his work in the Return of the Mutt Cubist exhibition alongside David Elizondo and Karl Lubberman on view from June 6 to June 28, 2025 at the Beacon at Midtown Gallery and Studios.
In 2024, Avila donated a collection of artwork, music, videos, newsmedia, zines, fliers, and photographic slides to the Trinity University Special Collections and Archives.