Experience the creativity of our border community and cultures from around the world. EPMA’s calendar of events has something for all audiences and interests.
Unless otherwise noted, all EPMA programs are free. EPMA Members enjoy advanced access for select programs and discounts on ticketed events.
From the Collection: Portraiture, 1903-2021 presents over twenty artworks from EPMA’s diverse permanent collection. Since 1959, EPMA has acquired works of portraiture that range in mediums such as paintings, photography, works on paper, and sculpture. Featured works are from local, national and international artists who interpret the human presence which is shaped by cultural context, personal narrative and the influences of human perception.
Support for this exhibition is provided by the Texas Commission on the Arts, the El Paso Museum of Art Foundation, and the City of El Paso’s Museums & Cultural Affairs Department.
From the Collection: Portraiture, 1903-2021 presents over twenty artworks from EPMA’s diverse permanent collection. Since 1959, EPMA has acquired works of portraiture that range in mediums such as paintings, photography, works on paper, and sculpture. Featured works are from local, national and international artists who interpret the human presence which is shaped by cultural context, personal narrative and the influences of human perception.
Support for this exhibition is provided by the Texas Commission on the Arts, the El Paso Museum of Art Foundation, and the City of El Paso’s Museums & Cultural Affairs Department.
The El Paso Museum of Art is proud to host Congresswoman Veronica Escobar’s Congressional Art Competition, featuring the top 100 selections from across Texas’ 16th Congressional District (TX-16).
This year’s theme, “A Day in the Borderland” invited artists from across TX-16 to capture a snapshot of a day in El Paso. The works presented here represent unique perspectives and voices, and are a testament to our creative youth. Since 1982, members of the U.S. House of Representatives have sponsored this nationwide high school art competition to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents.
The Congressional Art Competition is open to all high school students in the district. Students submit entries to their Representative’s office, and a panel of judges select the winning entries. Winners are recognized both in their district and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, DC. The first-place winner from the TX-16 competition will have their artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building for a year alongside other entries from across the nation.
Support for this exhibition is provided by the Texas Commission on the Arts and El Paso Electric. Additional support is provided by the City of El Paso’s Museums & Cultural Affairs Department.
From the Collection: Portraiture, 1903-2021 presents over twenty artworks from EPMA’s diverse permanent collection. Since 1959, EPMA has acquired works of portraiture that range in mediums such as paintings, photography, works on paper, and sculpture. Featured works are from local, national and international artists who interpret the human presence which is shaped by cultural context, personal narrative and the influences of human perception.
Support for this exhibition is provided by the Texas Commission on the Arts, the El Paso Museum of Art Foundation, and the City of El Paso’s Museums & Cultural Affairs Department.
The El Paso Museum of Art is proud to host Congresswoman Veronica Escobar’s Congressional Art Competition, featuring the top 100 selections from across Texas’ 16th Congressional District (TX-16).
This year’s theme, “A Day in the Borderland” invited artists from across TX-16 to capture a snapshot of a day in El Paso. The works presented here represent unique perspectives and voices, and are a testament to our creative youth. Since 1982, members of the U.S. House of Representatives have sponsored this nationwide high school art competition to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents.
The Congressional Art Competition is open to all high school students in the district. Students submit entries to their Representative’s office, and a panel of judges select the winning entries. Winners are recognized both in their district and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, DC. The first-place winner from the TX-16 competition will have their artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building for a year alongside other entries from across the nation.
Support for this exhibition is provided by the Texas Commission on the Arts and El Paso Electric. Additional support is provided by the City of El Paso’s Museums & Cultural Affairs Department.
This class session is designed for beginners and advanced students looking to work on self-guided projects with one-on-one assistance from an experienced instructor with an emphasis on wheel throwing and hand building. For beginners to advanced artists lacking access to a studio and equipment. All
This is an entry level course to the medium of painting for both teens and adults. Students will learn various techniques in acrylic painting on canvas. Beginners looking to start a new hobby or for established artist looking to sharpen up their skills. Students will have access to EPMA’s Art Studio and EPMA’s collection to study and learn from, with a talented Teaching Artist to help guide students at their own work pace.
In this exhibition, Blast confronts the tension between desire, survival, and overindulgence in contemporary American culture. This body of work lives in the space between aspiration and disillusionment. Through exaggerated color, distorted symbols of wealth and entertainment, and imagery pulled from everyday street life, the artwork reflects how systems of consumption shape identity, behavior, self-worth and survival. Rooted in the lived realities of the borderlands, the exhibition speaks to the experiences of working-class communities and people often pushed outside of the margins of society.
Blast is a recipient of the Museums and Cultural Affairs Department (MCAD) Cultural Funding Program. As part of its mission to drive El Paso’s cultural vitality, MCAD provides support annually to local artists, area non-profit arts organizations and creative entrepreneurs through a competitive granting process in six categories that is designed for maximum transparency. The Artist Incubator Program (AIP) supports the creation of new work by El Paso artists in all disciplines.
Trancazos de la Vida Real is presented in partnership with MCAD’s Artist Incubator Program.
Support for the project is provided by the Mellon Foundation and the El Paso Museum of Art Foundation.
From the Collection: Portraiture, 1903-2021 presents over twenty artworks from EPMA’s diverse permanent collection. Since 1959, EPMA has acquired works of portraiture that range in mediums such as paintings, photography, works on paper, and sculpture. Featured works are from local, national and international artists who interpret the human presence which is shaped by cultural context, personal narrative and the influences of human perception.
Support for this exhibition is provided by the Texas Commission on the Arts, the El Paso Museum of Art Foundation, and the City of El Paso’s Museums & Cultural Affairs Department.
The El Paso Museum of Art is proud to host Congresswoman Veronica Escobar’s Congressional Art Competition, featuring the top 100 selections from across Texas’ 16th Congressional District (TX-16).
This year’s theme, “A Day in the Borderland” invited artists from across TX-16 to capture a snapshot of a day in El Paso. The works presented here represent unique perspectives and voices, and are a testament to our creative youth. Since 1982, members of the U.S. House of Representatives have sponsored this nationwide high school art competition to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents.
The Congressional Art Competition is open to all high school students in the district. Students submit entries to their Representative’s office, and a panel of judges select the winning entries. Winners are recognized both in their district and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, DC. The first-place winner from the TX-16 competition will have their artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building for a year alongside other entries from across the nation.
Support for this exhibition is provided by the Texas Commission on the Arts and El Paso Electric. Additional support is provided by the City of El Paso’s Museums & Cultural Affairs Department.
This class session is designed for beginners and advanced students looking to work on self-guided projects with one-on-one assistance from an experienced instructor with an emphasis on wheel throwing and hand building. For beginners to advanced artists lacking access to a studio and equipment. All
This is an entry level course to the medium of painting for both teens and adults. Students will learn various techniques in acrylic painting on canvas. Beginners looking to start a new hobby or for established artist looking to sharpen up their skills. Students will have access to EPMA’s Art Studio and EPMA’s collection to study and learn from, with a talented Teaching Artist to help guide students at their own work pace.
In this exhibition, Blast confronts the tension between desire, survival, and overindulgence in contemporary American culture. This body of work lives in the space between aspiration and disillusionment. Through exaggerated color, distorted symbols of wealth and entertainment, and imagery pulled from everyday street life, the artwork reflects how systems of consumption shape identity, behavior, self-worth and survival. Rooted in the lived realities of the borderlands, the exhibition speaks to the experiences of working-class communities and people often pushed outside of the margins of society.
Blast is a recipient of the Museums and Cultural Affairs Department (MCAD) Cultural Funding Program. As part of its mission to drive El Paso’s cultural vitality, MCAD provides support annually to local artists, area non-profit arts organizations and creative entrepreneurs through a competitive granting process in six categories that is designed for maximum transparency. The Artist Incubator Program (AIP) supports the creation of new work by El Paso artists in all disciplines.
Trancazos de la Vida Real is presented in partnership with MCAD’s Artist Incubator Program.
Support for the project is provided by the Mellon Foundation and the El Paso Museum of Art Foundation.
Join us for FREE Sound Bath meditation at EPMA on Sunday, July 5, at 12:00-1:30 PM. As always, no registration is required. Make sure to bring a yoga mat and a blanket for maximum relaxation. The theme of this sound bath is “Learning to Say No”
Many people experience moments when their thoughts feel constant or overwhelming. This session explores how the mind and body respond to stress, and how these responses are often protective rather than problematic. Participants will be invited to notice their patterns with curiosity and to explore simple ways of creating space within those experiences. The sound bath will offer rhythmic and repetitive tones that can support the nervous system in shifting toward a more regulated state.
Presented in collaboration with Live Active El Paso. Support provided by Art Bridges.
This is a great introductory class for all things Printmaking with instruction from Master Printmaker Alexis Ruiz also known as Printmeikiando. Printmaking is the art of creating images by transferring ink from a surface onto paper or fabric often in multiples. Camp participants will learn about Silk screen, Mono type, Kitchen Lithography and Linoleum carving.
All materials and services are included with the cost of tuition.
Students will be instructed by local artist, Angie-Michelle Barraza in exploring the foundations and techniques of painting with acrylic paint and with various mix media. Perfect for kids interested in discovering and developing their artistic skills. All materials and services are included with the cost of tuition.
Instructor Efren Villalobos will introduce students to the basic foundations of ceramics. Participants will learn how to hand build with low fire clay and learn how to throw on the pottery wheel. All materials and supplies will be provided. Due to the process of firing, all ceramic work made in class, will need to be picked up at a later date. All materials and services are included with the cost of tuition.
Join us for “Rest and Restore: The Art of Healthy Sleep” a Wellness Family Day on July 11, from 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM. In this workshop you will create your own dream journal. FREE while supplies last.
Generous support for this project provided by Art Bridges.
Join Master Printmaker Carlos Barberena for a free two-day intensive workshop exploring the art of printmaking. Participants will learn linoleum block carving and printing techniques while creating a series of original prints using a traditional printing press at the El Paso Museum of Art.
Bring a 9”x12” design or idea ready to transfer on the plate.
This event is part of El Paso Print Pachanga. El Paso Print Pachanga is organized by Taller La Espina and funded by MCAD’s Arts Activate Program. Additional support provided by the Mellon Foundation.
Suitable for beginners and experienced artists alike. Must be 16 and over.
Supplies included.
Registration is limited.
Take a break and join us for Bach’s Lunch in collaboration with El Paso Pro Musica. Enjoy a FREE, intimate performance by Zuill Bailey and Dominic Dousa, July 16th, from 12-1pm at the EPMA El Paso Energy Auditorium. It’s the perfect midday escape to unwind with incredible music!
Presented in collaboration with El Paso Pro Musica.
Woodstock is the landmark 1970 documentary directed by Michael Wadleigh and edited by Martin Scorsese that captures the iconic performances and spirit of the 1969 Woodstock Music Festival in Bethel, New York.
Join us for FREE Sound Bath meditation at EPMA on Sunday, July 19, at 12:00-1:30 PM. As always, no registration is required. Make sure to bring a yoga mat and a blanket for maximum relaxation. The theme of this sound bath is “Learning to Say No”
For some individuals, the body may not always feel like a comfortable place to be. This session introduces the concept of building a sense of internal safety gradually and with choice. Participants are encouraged to engage only in ways that feel accessible to them, with permission to adjust, pause, or simply listen. The sound bath will emphasize low, grounding frequencies and a predictable flow, helping to create an environment where participants can gently explore a sense of ease within themselves.
Presented in collaboration with Live Active El Paso. Support provided by Art Bridges.
Gimme Shelter follows The Rolling Stones’ 1969 U.S. tour, culminating in the tragic Altamont Free Concert, where counterculture idealism unraveled into violence.
Hand embroidery is a wonderful skill for kids to learn. It’s a creative and quiet activity that also helps them strengthen hand-eye coordination and improve fine motor skills. In this class, kids will learn: - Safety measures to work with sharp objects like needles and scissors. - Materials used for hand embroidery. - Basic stitching techniques like running stitch, back running stitch, blanket stitch, satin stitch and lazy daisy stitch. - How to create a pattern and prepare a hand embroidery hoop. - How to hand stitch a plushie. - How to hand stitch a bookmark. All materials and services are included with the cost of tuition.
Students will be instructed by local artist, Angie-Michelle Barraza in exploring the foundations and techniques of painting with acrylic paint. Perfect for kids interested in discovering and developing their artistic skills.
All materials and services are included with the cost of tuition.
This is a great introductory class for all things Printmaking with instruction from Master Printmaker Alexis Ruiz also known as Printmeikiando. Printmaking is the art of creating images by transferring ink from a surface onto paper or fabric often in multiples. Camp participants will learn about Silk screen, Mono type, Kitchen Lithography and Linoleum carving.
All materials and services are included with the cost of tuition.
The Last Waltz is Martin Scorsese’s iconic 1978 documentary capturing The Band’s legendary 1976 farewell concert and the end of a musical era.
20 Feet from Stardom is an Oscar-winning 2013 documentary by Morgan Neville spotlighting the untold stories of the backup singers behind music’s biggest stars.
On the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, this exhibition portrays recent national historical moments through the lens of Mexican American, Chicano, and other contemporary artists. Centering the borderlands within the broader narrative of the American dream, these selections from the Zoe Diaz Collection explore the cultural, social, and political forces that shape the nation’s identity. El Paso-rooted artists Adriana Corral, Gaspar Enriquez, and Luis A. Jiménez Jr. reflect on national identity through works that question democratic ideals and portray the livelihood and stark realities of binational communities. Additional artists, including Mel Chin, Rubio, Vincent Valdez, and Kathy Vargas, confront the grotesque, surreal, and unjust in depictions of power and its potentially distorting effect on truth and reality.
Through the artworks on loan from the Zoe Diaz Collection, this nation is rendered as a beautiful yet complex tapestry – an embattled landscape, a canvas for dreams, and a stage for the ongoing pursuit of representation, justice, and belonging.
Edward Hayes Jr., Director, El Paso Museum of Art
This exhibition is organized by the El Paso Museum of Art with Georgina & Joe Diaz and EPMA Curatorial Associate Eun-Ji Jun.
Support for this exhibition is provided by the Texas Commission on the Arts, the Mellon Foundation, and the El Paso Museum of Art Foundation. Additional support provided by the City of El Paso’s Museums & Cultural Affairs Department.
Summer of Soul is Questlove’s 2021 documentary featuring rediscovered footage from the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, celebrating Black music and culture.
The El Paso Museum of Art is proud to host Congresswoman Veronica Escobar’s Congressional Art Competition, featuring the top 100 selections from across Texas’ 16th Congressional District (TX-16).
This year’s theme, “A Day in the Borderland” invited artists from across TX-16 to capture a snapshot of a day in El Paso. The works presented here represent unique perspectives and voices, and are a testament to our creative youth. Since 1982, members of the U.S. House of Representatives have sponsored this nationwide high school art competition to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents.
The Congressional Art Competition is open to all high school students in the district. Students submit entries to their Representative’s office, and a panel of judges select the winning entries. Winners are recognized both in their district and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, DC. The first-place winner from the TX-16 competition will have their artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building for a year alongside other entries from across the nation.
Support for this exhibition is provided by the Texas Commission on the Arts and El Paso Electric. Additional support is provided by the City of El Paso’s Museums & Cultural Affairs Department.
In this exhibition, Blast confronts the tension between desire, survival, and overindulgence in contemporary American culture. This body of work lives in the space between aspiration and disillusionment. Through exaggerated color, distorted symbols of wealth and entertainment, and imagery pulled from everyday street life, the artwork reflects how systems of consumption shape identity, behavior, self-worth and survival. Rooted in the lived realities of the borderlands, the exhibition speaks to the experiences of working-class communities and people often pushed outside of the margins of society.
Blast is a recipient of the Museums and Cultural Affairs Department (MCAD) Cultural Funding Program. As part of its mission to drive El Paso’s cultural vitality, MCAD provides support annually to local artists, area non-profit arts organizations and creative entrepreneurs through a competitive granting process in six categories that is designed for maximum transparency. The Artist Incubator Program (AIP) supports the creation of new work by El Paso artists in all disciplines.
Trancazos de la Vida Real is presented in partnership with MCAD’s Artist Incubator Program.
Support for the project is provided by the Mellon Foundation and the El Paso Museum of Art Foundation.
On the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, this exhibition portrays recent national historical moments through the lens of Mexican American, Chicano, and other contemporary artists. Centering the borderlands within the broader narrative of the American dream, these selections from the Zoe Diaz Collection explore the cultural, social, and political forces that shape the nation’s identity. El Paso-rooted artists Adriana Corral, Gaspar Enriquez, and Luis A. Jiménez Jr. reflect on national identity through works that question democratic ideals and portray the livelihood and stark realities of binational communities. Additional artists, including Mel Chin, Rubio, Vincent Valdez, and Kathy Vargas, confront the grotesque, surreal, and unjust in depictions of power and its potentially distorting effect on truth and reality.
Through the artworks on loan from the Zoe Diaz Collection, this nation is rendered as a beautiful yet complex tapestry – an embattled landscape, a canvas for dreams, and a stage for the ongoing pursuit of representation, justice, and belonging.
Edward Hayes Jr., Director, El Paso Museum of Art
This exhibition is organized by the El Paso Museum of Art with Georgina & Joe Diaz and EPMA Curatorial Associate Eun-Ji Jun.
Support for this exhibition is provided by the Texas Commission on the Arts, the Mellon Foundation, and the El Paso Museum of Art Foundation. Additional support provided by the City of El Paso’s Museums & Cultural Affairs Department.
In this exhibition, Blast confronts the tension between desire, survival, and overindulgence in contemporary American culture. This body of work lives in the space between aspiration and disillusionment. Through exaggerated color, distorted symbols of wealth and entertainment, and imagery pulled from everyday street life, the artwork reflects how systems of consumption shape identity, behavior, self-worth and survival. Rooted in the lived realities of the borderlands, the exhibition speaks to the experiences of working-class communities and people often pushed outside of the margins of society.
Blast is a recipient of the Museums and Cultural Affairs Department (MCAD) Cultural Funding Program. As part of its mission to drive El Paso’s cultural vitality, MCAD provides support annually to local artists, area non-profit arts organizations and creative entrepreneurs through a competitive granting process in six categories that is designed for maximum transparency. The Artist Incubator Program (AIP) supports the creation of new work by El Paso artists in all disciplines.
Trancazos de la Vida Real is presented in partnership with MCAD’s Artist Incubator Program.
Support for the project is provided by the Mellon Foundation and the El Paso Museum of Art Foundation.
On the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, this exhibition portrays recent national historical moments through the lens of Mexican American, Chicano, and other contemporary artists. Centering the borderlands within the broader narrative of the American dream, these selections from the Zoe Diaz Collection explore the cultural, social, and political forces that shape the nation’s identity. El Paso-rooted artists Adriana Corral, Gaspar Enriquez, and Luis A. Jiménez Jr. reflect on national identity through works that question democratic ideals and portray the livelihood and stark realities of binational communities. Additional artists, including Mel Chin, Rubio, Vincent Valdez, and Kathy Vargas, confront the grotesque, surreal, and unjust in depictions of power and its potentially distorting effect on truth and reality.
Through the artworks on loan from the Zoe Diaz Collection, this nation is rendered as a beautiful yet complex tapestry – an embattled landscape, a canvas for dreams, and a stage for the ongoing pursuit of representation, justice, and belonging.
Edward Hayes Jr., Director, El Paso Museum of Art
This exhibition is organized by the El Paso Museum of Art with Georgina & Joe Diaz and EPMA Curatorial Associate Eun-Ji Jun.
Support for this exhibition is provided by the Texas Commission on the Arts, the Mellon Foundation, and the El Paso Museum of Art Foundation. Additional support provided by the City of El Paso’s Museums & Cultural Affairs Department.
In this exhibition, Blast confronts the tension between desire, survival, and overindulgence in contemporary American culture. This body of work lives in the space between aspiration and disillusionment. Through exaggerated color, distorted symbols of wealth and entertainment, and imagery pulled from everyday street life, the artwork reflects how systems of consumption shape identity, behavior, self-worth and survival. Rooted in the lived realities of the borderlands, the exhibition speaks to the experiences of working-class communities and people often pushed outside of the margins of society.
Blast is a recipient of the Museums and Cultural Affairs Department (MCAD) Cultural Funding Program. As part of its mission to drive El Paso’s cultural vitality, MCAD provides support annually to local artists, area non-profit arts organizations and creative entrepreneurs through a competitive granting process in six categories that is designed for maximum transparency. The Artist Incubator Program (AIP) supports the creation of new work by El Paso artists in all disciplines.
Trancazos de la Vida Real is presented in partnership with MCAD’s Artist Incubator Program.
Support for the project is provided by the Mellon Foundation and the El Paso Museum of Art Foundation.
On the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, this exhibition portrays recent national historical moments through the lens of Mexican American, Chicano, and other contemporary artists. Centering the borderlands within the broader narrative of the American dream, these selections from the Zoe Diaz Collection explore the cultural, social, and political forces that shape the nation’s identity. El Paso-rooted artists Adriana Corral, Gaspar Enriquez, and Luis A. Jiménez Jr. reflect on national identity through works that question democratic ideals and portray the livelihood and stark realities of binational communities. Additional artists, including Mel Chin, Rubio, Vincent Valdez, and Kathy Vargas, confront the grotesque, surreal, and unjust in depictions of power and its potentially distorting effect on truth and reality.
Through the artworks on loan from the Zoe Diaz Collection, this nation is rendered as a beautiful yet complex tapestry – an embattled landscape, a canvas for dreams, and a stage for the ongoing pursuit of representation, justice, and belonging.
Edward Hayes Jr., Director, El Paso Museum of Art
This exhibition is organized by the El Paso Museum of Art with Georgina & Joe Diaz and EPMA Curatorial Associate Eun-Ji Jun.
Support for this exhibition is provided by the Texas Commission on the Arts, the Mellon Foundation, and the El Paso Museum of Art Foundation. Additional support provided by the City of El Paso’s Museums & Cultural Affairs Department.
In this exhibition, Blast confronts the tension between desire, survival, and overindulgence in contemporary American culture. This body of work lives in the space between aspiration and disillusionment. Through exaggerated color, distorted symbols of wealth and entertainment, and imagery pulled from everyday street life, the artwork reflects how systems of consumption shape identity, behavior, self-worth and survival. Rooted in the lived realities of the borderlands, the exhibition speaks to the experiences of working-class communities and people often pushed outside of the margins of society.
Blast is a recipient of the Museums and Cultural Affairs Department (MCAD) Cultural Funding Program. As part of its mission to drive El Paso’s cultural vitality, MCAD provides support annually to local artists, area non-profit arts organizations and creative entrepreneurs through a competitive granting process in six categories that is designed for maximum transparency. The Artist Incubator Program (AIP) supports the creation of new work by El Paso artists in all disciplines.
Trancazos de la Vida Real is presented in partnership with MCAD’s Artist Incubator Program.
Support for the project is provided by the Mellon Foundation and the El Paso Museum of Art Foundation.
On the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, this exhibition portrays recent national historical moments through the lens of Mexican American, Chicano, and other contemporary artists. Centering the borderlands within the broader narrative of the American dream, these selections from the Zoe Diaz Collection explore the cultural, social, and political forces that shape the nation’s identity. El Paso-rooted artists Adriana Corral, Gaspar Enriquez, and Luis A. Jiménez Jr. reflect on national identity through works that question democratic ideals and portray the livelihood and stark realities of binational communities. Additional artists, including Mel Chin, Rubio, Vincent Valdez, and Kathy Vargas, confront the grotesque, surreal, and unjust in depictions of power and its potentially distorting effect on truth and reality.
Through the artworks on loan from the Zoe Diaz Collection, this nation is rendered as a beautiful yet complex tapestry – an embattled landscape, a canvas for dreams, and a stage for the ongoing pursuit of representation, justice, and belonging.
Edward Hayes Jr., Director, El Paso Museum of Art
This exhibition is organized by the El Paso Museum of Art with Georgina & Joe Diaz and EPMA Curatorial Associate Eun-Ji Jun.
Support for this exhibition is provided by the Texas Commission on the Arts, the Mellon Foundation, and the El Paso Museum of Art Foundation. Additional support provided by the City of El Paso’s Museums & Cultural Affairs Department.
In this exhibition, Blast confronts the tension between desire, survival, and overindulgence in contemporary American culture. This body of work lives in the space between aspiration and disillusionment. Through exaggerated color, distorted symbols of wealth and entertainment, and imagery pulled from everyday street life, the artwork reflects how systems of consumption shape identity, behavior, self-worth and survival. Rooted in the lived realities of the borderlands, the exhibition speaks to the experiences of working-class communities and people often pushed outside of the margins of society.
Blast is a recipient of the Museums and Cultural Affairs Department (MCAD) Cultural Funding Program. As part of its mission to drive El Paso’s cultural vitality, MCAD provides support annually to local artists, area non-profit arts organizations and creative entrepreneurs through a competitive granting process in six categories that is designed for maximum transparency. The Artist Incubator Program (AIP) supports the creation of new work by El Paso artists in all disciplines.
Trancazos de la Vida Real is presented in partnership with MCAD’s Artist Incubator Program.
Support for the project is provided by the Mellon Foundation and the El Paso Museum of Art Foundation.
On the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, this exhibition portrays recent national historical moments through the lens of Mexican American, Chicano, and other contemporary artists. Centering the borderlands within the broader narrative of the American dream, these selections from the Zoe Diaz Collection explore the cultural, social, and political forces that shape the nation’s identity. El Paso-rooted artists Adriana Corral, Gaspar Enriquez, and Luis A. Jiménez Jr. reflect on national identity through works that question democratic ideals and portray the livelihood and stark realities of binational communities. Additional artists, including Mel Chin, Rubio, Vincent Valdez, and Kathy Vargas, confront the grotesque, surreal, and unjust in depictions of power and its potentially distorting effect on truth and reality.
Through the artworks on loan from the Zoe Diaz Collection, this nation is rendered as a beautiful yet complex tapestry – an embattled landscape, a canvas for dreams, and a stage for the ongoing pursuit of representation, justice, and belonging.
Edward Hayes Jr., Director, El Paso Museum of Art
This exhibition is organized by the El Paso Museum of Art with Georgina & Joe Diaz and EPMA Curatorial Associate Eun-Ji Jun.
Support for this exhibition is provided by the Texas Commission on the Arts, the Mellon Foundation, and the El Paso Museum of Art Foundation. Additional support provided by the City of El Paso’s Museums & Cultural Affairs Department.
