Chicano Art
Chicano art includes both art created during the 1970s alongside the Chicano Movement and also art that has been made up until the present day by artists who identify as Chicano/Chicana/Chicanx. While it can be argued that Chicano art existed before the Chicano movement, the proliferation of art produced in conjunction with and inspired by strikes and protests marks the beginning of Chicano art as we understand it today. Common themes addressed in Chicano art include:
- Chicano nationalism
- Mesoamerican imagery
- Immigration and the border
- Labor
- Chicana feminism and sexuality
- Family and rituals
- Chicano popular culture
- Anti-war sentiment
Chicano art is created with a variety of materials and mediums such as paintings, drawings, flyers, advertisements, and sculptures. Many Chicano/Chicana artists in the sixties, seventies, and eighties had formal training in the arts yet still experienced discrimination when it came to showcasing their work. During this time there were few galleries devoted to solely showing Chicano art. Mainstream galleries and museums looked down upon Chicano art as “folk art” or unserious art not worthy of being widely shown.
Chicano art has continued to evolve over the past couple of decades and now ecompasses a wide range of artistic practices that vary in genre, medium, and aesthetic. Although the definition of Chicano art has been the subject of debate, it is widely agreed upon that Chicano art is created by those who draw from their unique lived experiences and have a commitment to uplifting their communities.
