Week 2: Zapata Reading Q&A

Q: How do we define Chicanx art? Do Chicanx artists create Chicanx art, or is Chicanx

art about Chicanx collective experiences. 

A: In my opinion, Chicanx art is both created by Chicanx artists and about our collective experiences. In today’s art world, artists tend to use identity markers, especially women and people of color, to sell their art. While there is nothing wrong in doing so, it makes me question if Chicanx art is based solely on the artists’ identity or the art’s content. 

After reading about the artist Jacalyn Lopez Garcia’s and her piece Glass Houses, I noticed she incorporated many cultural symbols such as; chanclas, floral wallpaper and framed photographs. She also explicitly included her evolving identity as “Mexican, Mexican-American, and Chicana”. Undoubtedly this webpage is deemed Chicana art because a Chicana artist created it, and it highlights the Chicanx experience of identity exploration in America.

On the other hand, artist Oree Originol, creator of Justice for Our Lives, produced portraits of people from all races and ethnicities who were victims of police brutality. Would the piece Justice for Alyana Jones be considered Chicanx art because the artist identifies as Chicano? OR would it be not be considered Chicanx because the content is about the deep-rooted black history with police violence?

I think that identity markers or experiences cannot limit Chicanx art because it does not leave room for intersectionality. What about Afro-Latinx artists or queer experiences, or international perspectives? In spaces such as art galleries, museums, collections, we can define Chicanx art as art that challenges the dominant social norms, critiques the institutional and social forms of oppression, and promotes reflection or healing. The great thing about digital spaces is the wide variety of hashtags that allow artists to choose how to define their art. Overall, I think Chicanx art will become more expansive in the future.