Desde Abajo: La Gráfica Libertaria de César Montero
(From Below: Liberatory Graphics of César Montero)
Curated by Nica Aquino
(From Below: Liberatory Graphics of César Montero)
Curated by Nica Aquino
PLEASE VIEW ON A COMPUTER FOR THE FULL EXPERIENCE.
“In the late 90’s in Chile, the Christian Leftist mural brigade Unidades Muralistas Camilo Torres (UCMT), named after a Colombian socialist guerrilla and predecessor of Liberation Theology, popularized the slogan ‘El pintor también es trabajador,’ which translates to ‘the painter is also a worker.’ Decades before them, the Brigada Ramona Parra (BRP) named after a communist and martyr of the Juventudes Comunistas de Chile, took up the paint brush to popularize revolutionary slogans of the time and helped develop a collective style prevalent in Chilean Muralism. This style came from people who didn’t see themselves as traditional artists but instead as everyday people.
While many artists see themselves as separate from social movements, my work comes from the perspective of a working class Chicano artist and is a continuation of this collective style. It is art made from below and made alongside other working class people. This collection of works is a culmination of years of practicing that international style and learning from the Chilean muralists like Pablo Placencia Lagos and the mural brigade Pinta y Lucha.
It is interesting to note that while the style is primarily associated with Chile, in recent years it has been adopted by various mural brigades in Latin America and according to the older Chileans, was made possible by the cultural exchanges the Chileans had with Mexican muralists, most notably Diego Rivera. Continuing that tradition of cultural exchange, as a Chicano artist, I encourage other Chicanos to pick up the brush and not only paint the world, but change it.” -César Montero
César Montero is a cultural worker living in Los Angeles, CA.
Follow him on Instagram at @prolemex.
Support his work and donate to him at venmo.com/tallerlibertario
A printable zine PDF of this exhibition is available for a $1 donation (or any donation amount of your choice). To purchase a zine, artwork, or for inquiries please contact Gallery Director, Nica Aquino, at info@mataartgallery.org.
While many artists see themselves as separate from social movements, my work comes from the perspective of a working class Chicano artist and is a continuation of this collective style. It is art made from below and made alongside other working class people. This collection of works is a culmination of years of practicing that international style and learning from the Chilean muralists like Pablo Placencia Lagos and the mural brigade Pinta y Lucha.
It is interesting to note that while the style is primarily associated with Chile, in recent years it has been adopted by various mural brigades in Latin America and according to the older Chileans, was made possible by the cultural exchanges the Chileans had with Mexican muralists, most notably Diego Rivera. Continuing that tradition of cultural exchange, as a Chicano artist, I encourage other Chicanos to pick up the brush and not only paint the world, but change it.” -César Montero
César Montero is a cultural worker living in Los Angeles, CA.
Follow him on Instagram at @prolemex.
Support his work and donate to him at venmo.com/tallerlibertario
A printable zine PDF of this exhibition is available for a $1 donation (or any donation amount of your choice). To purchase a zine, artwork, or for inquiries please contact Gallery Director, Nica Aquino, at info@mataartgallery.org.
PLEASE VIEW ON A COMPUTER FOR THE FULL EXPERIENCE.
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE.
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE.
La Ciudad en Huelga
(The City on Strike)
graphite on newsprint
12" x 20"
2020
NOT FOR SALE
(The City on Strike)
graphite on newsprint
12" x 20"
2020
NOT FOR SALE
Pinta y Lucha
(Paint and Struggle)
digital illustration
2048 x 2048 px
2020
prints unavailable, but artist is available for commission
(Paint and Struggle)
digital illustration
2048 x 2048 px
2020
prints unavailable, but artist is available for commission
La Hoz
(The Sickle)
digital illustration
2048 x 2048 px
2020
prints unavailable, but artist is available for commission
(The Sickle)
digital illustration
2048 x 2048 px
2020
prints unavailable, but artist is available for commission
Bandido
(Bandit)
tempera paint, crayon, marker on construction paper
9" x 4.5"
2020
NOT FOR SALE
(Bandit)
tempera paint, crayon, marker on construction paper
9" x 4.5"
2020
NOT FOR SALE
I Support The Rent Strike
digital illustration
2048 x 2048 px
2020
prints unavailable, but artist is available for commission
digital illustration
2048 x 2048 px
2020
prints unavailable, but artist is available for commission
Rent Strike Painting #2
acrylic paint, solid paint marker, on canvas
18" x 24"
2020
$250
acrylic paint, solid paint marker, on canvas
18" x 24"
2020
$250
|
|
LEFT: Boceto de Guerrilla en Tiempo de Coronavirus
(Sketch of a Guerrilla in Times of Coronavirus)
graphite on mixed media paper
6" x 8"
2020
NOT FOR SALE
RIGHT: Boceto de Payaso, Guerrilla, y Tristeza
(Sketch of a Clown, Guerrilla, and Sadness)
graphite on mixed media paper
6" x 8"
2020
NOT FOR SALE
(Sketch of a Guerrilla in Times of Coronavirus)
graphite on mixed media paper
6" x 8"
2020
NOT FOR SALE
RIGHT: Boceto de Payaso, Guerrilla, y Tristeza
(Sketch of a Clown, Guerrilla, and Sadness)
graphite on mixed media paper
6" x 8"
2020
NOT FOR SALE
Musicians on Orange Construction Paper
graphite on construction paper
6" x 9"
2018
NOT FOR SALE
graphite on construction paper
6" x 9"
2018
NOT FOR SALE
|
|
LEFT: Community Outreach
digital illustration
2048 x 2048 px
2020
RIGHT: Chile Poblano
(Poblano Pepper)
digital illustration
2048 x 2048 px
2020
prints unavailable, but artist is available for commission
digital illustration
2048 x 2048 px
2020
RIGHT: Chile Poblano
(Poblano Pepper)
digital illustration
2048 x 2048 px
2020
prints unavailable, but artist is available for commission
Banner: Somos La Revolución
(We Are The Revolution)
flat exterior paint on bedsheet
5' x 7'
2020
NOT FOR SALE
(We Are The Revolution)
flat exterior paint on bedsheet
5' x 7'
2020
NOT FOR SALE
BANNER: Build Tenant Power
flat exterior paint on canvas
12' x 5'
2020
NOT FOR SALE
flat exterior paint on canvas
12' x 5'
2020
NOT FOR SALE
La Fabrica
(The Factory)
acrylic on canvas
16" x 12"
2017
NOT FOR SALE
(The Factory)
acrylic on canvas
16" x 12"
2017
NOT FOR SALE
|
|
LEFT: Nuestras Vidas #1
(Our Lives #1)
graphite on newsprint
11" x 14"
2020
NOT FOR SALE
RIGHT: Nuestras Vidas #2
(Our Lives #2)
graphite on newsprint
11" x 14"
2020
NOT FOR SALE
(Our Lives #1)
graphite on newsprint
11" x 14"
2020
NOT FOR SALE
RIGHT: Nuestras Vidas #2
(Our Lives #2)
graphite on newsprint
11" x 14"
2020
NOT FOR SALE
Utility Box #1
flat exterior on utility box
4'10" x 2'6"
2020
NOT FOR SALE
Please donate to César so he can paint more utility boxes around the city! venmo.com/tallerlibertario
flat exterior on utility box
4'10" x 2'6"
2020
NOT FOR SALE
Please donate to César so he can paint more utility boxes around the city! venmo.com/tallerlibertario
Cuando Voy Al Trabajo
(When I Go To Work)
black china marker on envelope
6" x 9"
2019
NOT FOR SALE
(When I Go To Work)
black china marker on envelope
6" x 9"
2019
NOT FOR SALE
Tribute to Magu Lujan
digital illustration
2048 x 2048 px
2020
prints unavailable, but artist is available for commission
digital illustration
2048 x 2048 px
2020
prints unavailable, but artist is available for commission
Rent Strike Painting #3
acrylic paint, solid paint marker, on canvas
18" x 24"
2020
$250
acrylic paint, solid paint marker, on canvas
18" x 24"
2020
$250
El Arte No Es Revolucionario
(Art is Not Revolutionary)
digital illustration
2048 x 2048 px
2020
prints unavailable, but artist is available for commission
(Art is Not Revolutionary)
digital illustration
2048 x 2048 px
2020
prints unavailable, but artist is available for commission
Please support this talented artist by buying available works, commissioning, or donating to him at venmo.com/tallerlibertario.
To purchase artwork or for inquiries please contact Gallery Director, Nica Aquino, at info@mataartgallery.org.
MATA ART GALLERY does not exist as a for-profit platform. Artists receive 100% of all artwork sales. Please consider tipping the gallery by sending donations via Venmo or PayPal. All donors will receive a printable zine PDF copy of this exhibition.
Thank you!
To purchase artwork or for inquiries please contact Gallery Director, Nica Aquino, at info@mataartgallery.org.
MATA ART GALLERY does not exist as a for-profit platform. Artists receive 100% of all artwork sales. Please consider tipping the gallery by sending donations via Venmo or PayPal. All donors will receive a printable zine PDF copy of this exhibition.
Thank you!
