Chicanx Latinx Art and Artists: Week # 3 Blog Post (Artist): Brenda Barrios

Brenda Barrios is a Mexican American first-generation Artists born and raised in Pasadena, Ca. She's a current student at the University of Los Angeles in the School of the Arts and Architecture department. Art was always a focus for Barrios, but it was until she got diagnosed with her disability that she leaped forward deeply into her art. Barrios has a history of working in Textiles, Printmaking, Photography, Filmmaking/Editing, Sculpture, Illustrations, Screen printing, Painting, Performance, Music, and Murals. Barrios's artworks focus on Social Justice issues, Activism, and her artwork is often inspired by her diagnoses, childhood, and culture. Some of Barrios's recent Artworks are Illustrations such as Rock the votes "Thank you, essential workers." Various Black Lives Matter Illustrations and mural. And Barrios's "My Parents were poor but made they made me feel Rich" Illustration. She is known for making her Illustrations into stickers and donating fifty percent of the proceeds.

Some of her most notable works are “ Mom working “ (2020), which was around the world online and projected and displayed in places such as London U.K, and New York. The Non Profit organization Amplifier financed this Illustration. Due to the Global Pandemic, Barrios shifted to more Illustrations and graphics because it was more accessible. Barrios wanted to discuss and bring to light the issues people face during this pandemic when working as an essential worker with no medical insurance.

Barrios’s second well-known artwork is “ Protect farmworkers”(2020) to bring awareness to farmworkers to bring attention to the injustice of how farmworkers are working in unstable conditions and should receive hazard pay. Barrios reached out to The Farmworker Project organization and donated fifty percent of the proceeds from all the prints she made.

Barrios’s latest Sculpture piece is “ Hospital feet”(2020), five feet tall made from textiles and mixed media. Most of Barrios’s artworks include vibrant colors, and this sculpture shows four legs representing the time the Artists was hospitalized and left the hospital with swollen feet. Barrios wanted to make them colorful, even though it was a sad moment; she wanted to make them beautiful. This artist’s sculptures often show her struggles with her disabilities. Another example is “ Healing Intestine”( 2020 ), which includes a musical composition and dance where Barrios integrates her sculpture into her performance. Barrios hopes to educate her audience further and inspire others to continue in their passions despite their disabilities and struggles.

Exhibitions:

Amplifier Art award Exhibition: Public Health and safety (Covid19 ) message display in London U.K and New York 2020.

Black Lives Matter Mural: For Pasadena CA with compassionate Arts 2020

PASADENA MUSEUM OF HISTORY (Family Free Sunday) Lead Artist in a ‘free chalking zone’ during Pasadena Chalk Festival 25-Year Retrospective Exhibition 2018

Pasadena ART Night.: MINI GRANT AWARD City Artist 2017

Playhouse District Pasadena CA Third Thursday Live Mural 2018

Mexico City Mexico 2017

ZONA ROSA CAFÉ Annual participant in Dia de Los Muertos Exhibition/Events 2013-2018

PASADENA CHALK FESTIVAL Multi-year artist participant and media spokesperson LIVE on TV 2017

Picture this Gallery in Long Beach - Frida Kahlo artist exhibit 2016

ViVA la Mujer Art event at the MUSEUM OF LATIN AMERICAN Art (MOLAA) 2015

Plaza De La Raza Los Angeles Ca 2018

Pasadena Art + Design Open Market at OLD Town Pasadena CA

SGIA EXPO - art screen printing competition at Las Vegas NV Self Help Graphics and art award screen printing Competition. 2017-2018

References:

https://www.loc.gov/item/2020632269/