May 30, 2024

IdentificarX, Celebrating ArtCenter's Latina/e/o/x Alumni Community

June 15 through August 3, 2024

On view across several of ArtCenter College of Design, South Campus galleries: The Peter and Merle Mullin Gallery, Second Level Galleries, Hutto-Patterson Exhibition Hall and HMCT Gallery.

Opening Reception: Saturday, June 15, 6–8 p.m., all locations
The reception will feature DJ Más Éxitos (ArtCenter alumnus Gary Ganas Garay)

ArtCenter College of Design is pleased to announce IdentificarX, an exhibition celebrating ArtCenter’s Latina/e/o/x alumni community. The exhibition will explore the complex and distinct contributions our alumni have made to the field of art and design, and their significant cultural impact. The show will open June 15 with over 100 artists and designers exhibiting across ArtCenter’s South Campus in the Peter and Merle Mullin Gallery, the Second Level Galleries, the Hutto-Patterson Exhibition Hall and the HMCT Gallery. The exhibition will be accompanied by an array of programs, including film screenings, community tours and panels, and an exhibition publication.

Recognizing the Latina/e/o/x community is not a monolith, the value “x” in the exhibition’s title acts as a placeholder for inclusivity and agency. It holds ground for the multiple and varied places, experiences, memories, histories, genders and races that co-exist through the use of “x.” It is a visual signifier of expansiveness and brings together wide-ranging conversations about identity and diasporas in art and design. “The name of this show, IdentificarX, is itself a kind of trap door,” writes faculty member Rocío Carlos in an essay in the exhibition’s accompanying publication. “To enter an exhibition under this title is to wonder about language, about belonging, about geographies, histories and futures.”

In the exhibition’s publication, Carlos poignantly describes the experience of being Latina/e/o/x in this country, in this world, and at this institution, observing, “LatinX students find in ArtCenter a new ‘no-man’s-land.’ A vacuum of LatinX culture in the middle of a LatinX cultural hub,” and challenges the College, “[t]he mounting of this exhibition must be a step in the institution facing itself and its role in the solitude of students who work to make their visions a reality.” Copies of the publication, designed by alum Erron Estrada, will be available for free at all locations, while supplies last.

The exhibition features over 100 artists and designers, representing the broad spectrum of disciplines at the College, from Fine Art and Illustration to Photography, Product Design and more. IdentificarX provides a thoughtful look at the pathways and strategies that members of the Latina/e/o/x community undertake to become part of the culture making field.

ArtCenter President Karen Hofmann observes, “My hope is that IdentificarX clearly demonstrates the power of identity and representation in art and design education. Our ongoing efforts to address systemic bias in our academic offerings broadens the discourse with perspectives, experiences and creative contributions from the diverse cultures of the ArtCenter community and the wider world.”

The IdentificarX planning committee is comprised of alumni, faculty and staff. The alumni curatorial team includes: Ryan Perez, Carla Figueroa, Ana Lydia Ochoa-Monaco, Leo Eguiarte, Melinda Paix Arredondo, Ramone Muñoz, Stan Kong, Julian Flores, Olivia Sandoval, Stella Hernandez and Stephanie Marie Cedeño.

IdentificarX and its related programming are results of a collaboration between numerous departments in the ArtCenter community including the Center for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Office of Development; Alumni Office; ArtCenter Exhibitions; and the Hoffmitz Milken Center for Typography.

QUOTES FROM CURATORS
Alumna, faculty member, associate chair and curator Stella Hernandez observes, "The Latina/e/o/x community is incredibly diverse, and I am thrilled to celebrate the rich intersection of identities at ArtCenter while recognizing the outstanding work produced by our alumni. This exhibition marks a pivotal step for our school in embracing and reflecting the vibrant community of Los Angeles, fostering a deeper connection between diverse identities and the world of art and design."

Curator, faculty member, alumnus and exhibitor Ramone Muñoz expressed, "as a long-time Latina/e/o/x faculty member and ArtCenter graduate, I'm overwhelmed by the extraordinary scope of talent in IdentificarX. As one of 11 curators, I shared the challenging, but thrilling task of highlighting the work of more than 100 ArtCenter alumni artists and designers from across ArtCenter disciplines. ArtCenter is deeply connected through its alumni to the international design community, but this exhibition is the first opportunity in our 94-year history to demonstrate the breadth, depth and power of Latina/e/o/x creativity at our College. I couldn't be prouder of ArtCenter, the IdentificarX curatorial team and our immensely talented alumni."

According to Ryan Perez, who is also a curator, faculty member, alumnus and exhibitor like Ramone, "Inclusion is more than providing scholarships and access." He recalled, "when I arrived at ArtCenter, I remember the curriculum celebrating modernism, and though I wasn’t the most remarkable student, I’m pretty sure we didn’t talk about the part where modernism is colonization. We did not talk about the division of land or the exploitation of humans for labor. It’s hard to talk about these things, and IdentificarX does that."

As Ryan puts it "we as educators must decolonize and de-westernize our curriculum — this means including more than one side of the story and honoring the idea that not all knowledge must come from either Europe or the United States. If only one story is shared, that story becomes superior to all others, while violently, everything else is erased. Co-curating this exhibition was beyond meaningful, but it was not easy; it was emotionally heavy, and it’s work I will continue to do. It is one of the greatest projects I have been a part of in my life’s work as an artist and educator. In my conversations with artists, colleagues, family, and friends, I encountered stories that challenged me in the way I wish I had been challenged as a student. The stories connected to the work in IdentificarX will hold space in ArtCenter’s archives, and it has already inspired at the curricular level. Most importantly, it will live in the minds and hearts of those who come to visit this beautiful exhibition."

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS AND DESIGNERS*

  • Citlalli Esmeralda Aguirre
  • Elsa Flores Almaraz
  • Christopher Alvarado
  • Michael Alvarez
  • Alan Amaya
  • Ximena Amaya
  • Harold Arandia Jr.
  • Angela Ardila Coutts
  • Melinda Paix Arredondo
  • Fernando Arrioja
  • Maribel Barcena Lopez
  • Michael Bardales-Urióstegui
  • Luisa Betancur Ossa
  • Chaz Bojórquez
  • Jeaneen Carlino
  • Brenda Bren Carrillo
  • Guillermo Casarín
  • Juan Castro
  • Omar Ceballos
  • Stephanie Marie Cedeño
  • Jude Chacon
  • Franco Corral
  • Emilia Cruz
  • Jorge Luis Cruzata
  • Manuel del Valle
  • Valeria Duque
  • Vanessa Eckstein
  • Leo Eguiarte
  • Jessy Escobedo
  • Issac Psalm Escoto
  • Rafael Esquer
  • Erron Estrada
  • Victor Estrada
  • Sonya Fe
  • Alejandra Fernandez
  • Carla Figueroa
  • Luis Fitch
  • José Flores
  • Julian Flores
  • Elsa Flores Almaraz
  • Reiner Gamboa
  • Jimena Gamio
  • Gary Ganas Garay
  • Victor Bocanegra Garcia
  • Agustin Garza
  • Lester Guijarro
  • Andy Gutierrez
  • Gizelle Hernandez
  • Stella Hernandez
  • David Herrera
  • Gerardo Herrera
  • Ricardo Imperial
  • Dilean Nevenka Jiménez
  • Catalina Johnson
  • Luis Kuri
  • Fabian Lacey
  • Nery Gabriel Lemus
  • Coral Saucedo Lomelí
  • Rafael López
  • Penelope Luna
  • Rudy Manning
  • Patrick Martinez
  • Fran Méndez
  • Gaby Méndez
  • Karina G. Méndez
  • Rebeca Méndez
  • Bibs Moreno
  • Ramone Muñoz
  • Ana Lydia Ochoa-Monaco
  • Joshua Oceguera
  • Mike Ortiz
  • David López Osuna
  • Carlo Olivares Paganoni
  • Javier Palomares
  • John Parra
  • Christian Perez Morin
  • Ryan Perez
  • Johnny Pérez
  • Angeles Portilla
  • David Quiñones
  • Edgar Ramirez
  • Javier Ramirez
  • Alicia Rangel
  • Maria Rendón
  • Hilda Rios
  • Roberto Rodriguez
  • Juan Román
  • Ramona Rosales
  • Diego Andoni Rubio
  • Enrique Saavedra
  • Olivia Sandoval
  • Rhombie Sandoval
  • Andrea Sofia Santizo
  • Marcel Santos
  • Emilio Santoyo
  • Yair Sarmiento
  • Ana Serrano
  • Stephen Serrato
  • Erick Solorzano
  • Gustavo Soriano
  • Ariel “NAVS” Navarrete Spahn
  • Sergio Teran
  • Julio Cesar Toruño
  • Joaquin Trujillo
  • Michael Bardales-Uriostegui
  • Javier Verdura
  • Damien Vizcarra
  • Marcus Zúñiga

*confirmed as of May 28. 2024 See the exhibition webpage for the most up-to-date list of participating artists.

RELATED PROGRAMMING

The following has been confirmed. Details to come. Additional programming expected.

Saturday, June 15—Opening Reception
all locations

6–8 p.m.

Wednesday, June 26—Movement Through Line: A Conversation with Medar de la Cruz
ArtCenter Library, Hillside Campus, 1700 Lida Street, Pasadena, CA 91103
6–7 p.m.
The ArtCenter Library presents an evening with alum Medar de la Cruz (BFA 2016, Illustration). Medar won the Pulitzer Prize in Illustrated Reporting and Commentary for his New Yorker piece titled Diary of a Rikers Island Library Worker. His bold and evocative illustrations delve deep into themes of social justice and the human experience, harnessing the transformative power of comics to ignite change.

Saturday, June 29—Alumni Panel
1111, Second Level Galleries, 1111 S. Arroyo Parkway
4–5:30 p.m.
Join us for the Alumni Panel Discussion, part of the IdentificarX exhibition, where our alumni panelists will discuss their journeys into their respective fields, the impact of an ArtCenter education, and the challenges of working in the arts.

Featuring

  • Stella Hernandez-Sanchez (BS 11) – Design
  • Bibs Moreno (BFA 18) – Photography
  • Nery Gabriel Lemus (BFA 07) – Fine Art
  • Erron Estrada (BFA 22) – Graphic Design

July 19-20—IdentificarX Film Festival

Program details

COMMUNITY TOURS

Join alum Angeles Portilla for a guided exhibition tour of IdentificarX across galleries at ArtCenter’s South Campus. All guided tours will require significant walking. These 90-minute community tours are open to the public and registration is not required. All tours will begin at the Peter and Merle Mullin Gallery, located at 1111 S. Arroyo Parkway, Pasadena, CA 91105.

June 22
1–2:30 p.m.

July 20

1–2:30 p.m.

August 3
1–2:30 p.m.


LOCATION:
ArtCenter South Campus, Pasadena, CA

Peter and Merle Mullin and Second Level Galleries, 1111 S. Arroyo Parkway
HMCT Gallery, 950 S. Raymond Ave.
Hutto-Patterson Exhibition Hall, 870 S. Raymond Ave.

EXHIBITION HOURS:

Mullin Gallery, Second Level Galleries: Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m.
HMCT Gallery: Daily, 8 a.m.–10 p.m.
Hutto-Patterson Exhibition Hall: Daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Free admission

About ArtCenter Exhibitions: ArtCenter Exhibitions is a program of public-facing curated spaces. Our programs seek to ignite emotional resonance, provoke intellectual dissonance and conjure unexpected pathways of thinking by connecting art and design with the social, scientific, humanitarian and poetic dimensions of our time. Galleries include the Alyce de Roulet Williamson Gallery at the College’s Hillside Campus and the Peter and Merle Mullin Gallery at its South Campus. Additional curated spaces include the Hoffmitz Milken Center for Typography Gallery (HMCT), the Second Level Galleries and the Hutto-Patterson Exhibition Hall located at ArtCenter's South Campus, as well as the Hillside Campus Student Gallery.

About ArtCenter: Founded in 1930 and located in Pasadena, California, ArtCenter College of Design is a global leader in art and design education. ArtCenter offers 11 undergraduate and 10 graduate degrees in a wide variety of art and design disciplines. In addition to its top-ranked academic programs, the College also serves the general public through a highly regarded series of year-round online and on campus extension programs for all levels of experience. Renowned for both its ties to industry and its social impact initiatives, ArtCenter is the first design school to receive the United Nations’ Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) status. Throughout the College’s long and storied history, ArtCenter alumni have had a profound impact on popular culture, the way we live and important issues in our society.

CONTACT:
Keith Wang, Coordinator, Marketing and Communications
keith.wang@artcenter.edu
626 396-2338

Anna Macaulay, Director, Campus Communications
anna.macaulay@artcenter.edu
626 396-2205

IdentificarX is an exhibition that celebrates ArtCenter's Latina/e/o/x alumni community. IdentificarX logo and graphic identity designed by alumna, Carla Figueroa.
Sergio Teran, Ballad of two Cities, 2006-2012
Alejandra Fernadez, Vase face, 2023
Jeaneen Carlino, Womb of Man 2.0, 2020
Chaz Bojórquez, Malcolm X As The Phoenix, 1993
Melinda Paix Arredondo, Sólo es un juego, 2019