Today we’d like to introduce you to Xavier Garza.
Xavier was born in Rio Grande City in Texas’s Lower Rio Grande Valley in 1968. Growing up along the border in a Mexican-American family, he became intensely interested in both the spooky local folklore and the sport of lucha libre or Mexican wrestling. He received his BFA in art from the University of Texas Pan American in 1994, and an MA in Art History in 2007. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, he began to exhibit his work in venues such as Talento Bilingue de Houston, Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center in San Antonio, Nuestra Palabra de Houston and various Mexican Consulates in the Rio Grande Valley and El Paso. Garza’s art has also been displayed in The Institute of Texan Cultures in San Antonio, Mexic-Arte in Austin, Gallista Gallery in San Antonio, Coronado Studios in Austin, and The Ice House in Dallas, among many others. After contributing to several anthologies in the early 2000s, Garza penned and illustrated his first children’s book, Creepy Creatures and other Cucuys, which was published by Arte Público Press in 2004. Over the next decade, he went on to craft many other award-winning titles.
Please tell us about your art.
I grew up my entire life surrounded by storytellers. My father was a storyteller. My grandparents were storytellers. I never met my great grandfather, but everybody that knew him tell me he was a great storyteller. My work both as an artist and as an author are all geared towards telling a story. When asked once to provide an artist statement that would describe my work, I said the following.
“From the flour tortillas filled with rice and beans that I ate as a boy to the songs by Pedro Infante that my grandmother sang to me as she rocked me to sleep, I paint what I know and have experienced in my life. Going to Mexican wrestling in Reynosa are all elements that make up the images and inspirations for all my work as an artist.”
I paint primarily with acrylics, as I like the fact that they dry fast. I tend to work very fast. I use bright, and vibrant colors that have been described as piñata Colors. They are colorful to catch the eye of the viewer. When doing children’s books color is essential to catch the eye of the young viewer.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing artists today?
One of the challenges facing artist today is exposure. While the internet has been pivotal in artists promoting their work, many traditional venues such as galleries continue to be a struggle. I was blessed to have found books as a means to promote my work as an artist. By writing and illustrating my own books, I am able to reach a far wider audience.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
My work can be seen in the permanent art collections of the University of Texas at San Antonio, and at Arizona State University in Tempe. Now a day’s most of my artwork is found in my books. I have authored fourteen books thus far, and illustrated 12 of those books. I have two new books coming out this fall, Vincent Ventura and the Mystery of the Chupacabras and a second book titled Just One Itsy Bitsy Little Bite, both published by Arte Publico Press. In the fall of 2019 I have the fourth book in the Maximilian series being published by Cinco Puntos Press. It is titled Maximilian and the Curse of the Fallen Angel.
Contact Info:
- Address: 6310 Madeleine Dr. San Antonio, Texas 78229
- Website: https://www.facebook.com/charroclaus/
- Phone: 210-260-8035
- Email: xaviergarza@hotmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charroclaus/
- Twitter: xavier garza @CharroClaus
Image Credit:
All drawn images done by Xavier Garza / Photo of Xavier Garza taken by Karen Arneson.
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