Judy Baca - Killed by a Paca

Judy Baca

 Judy Baca was born in 1946 and raised in Watts California in an all-female household headed by her tire-factory-worker mother. As a child, Baca experienced different forms of cultural shaming for her Mexican roots yet showed interest in art. As seen through her art, Baca has chosen to focus her anger and sadness towards the discrimination and cultural shaming that she has faced in art while also making these pieces accessible for her audience and displaying her talent traditionally in murals. 

One piece that truly shows her ability to channel her emotions into art is a piece created in 1947 entitled Killed by a Paca that is wood stain on paper. This piece was created just after a 17-year-old student who she worked closely with, was killed by gang violence in his car. That night, Baca sat on a bed with the boys bloodied shirt and his mother trying to convince the boy’s brothers not to kill the man that killed their brother. While Baca claims this to be one of the nights of her life that she would never forget, the art that she created shortly after was revolutionary. The piece shows a boy laying on the floor holding a wound on his stomach. The boy also has the names of the brother’s gang on his face in graffiti almost as if Baca chose to graffiti her art herself. The dichotomy of strength and weakness is fascinating as the arms of the boy command strength yet his contorted pose radiates pain. This piece, while full of sadness also acts as a warning for those involved in gangs of the dangers that could await them. 

- Elise Burgos