Monarca
Gloria Contreras is a Mexican American artist specializing in cartoneria, a traditional Mexican craft. Beginning with papier-mâché Catrinas, she expanded her skills by learning from master cartoneros in Mexico. Gloria’s work, celebrated for its cultural significance and craftsmanship, has been featured in various Chicago-area events, exhibitions, and educational settings. She actively contributes to preserving and promoting Mexican cultural heritage through her art and community involvement with the DuPage Hispanic Alliance.
Crecer
Angelica “Angie” is a Latina artist and former educator who founded La Vida Creative. Her brand creates culturally-inspired artwork celebrating Latina heritage and empowering women. Through vibrant prints and motivational pieces, Angie aims to inspire Latinas to embrace their roots and pursue their dreams.
BREWING
Andrea Peguero González is a Latina artist and illustrator from Monterrey, N.L., Mexico. She moved to the U.S. in 2011 and has lived and worked in the Chicagoland area ever since.
In her practice, her focus lies in the emotional nuances of a rich internal life, which she portrays through bright colors and whimsical scenes. She is currently working on an experimental picture book for her BFA thesis.
La Chamba
Ricardo Gonzalez is an artist, painter, and illustrator based in Blue Island, Illinois. He is the creator of “LA CHAMBA: Street Vendors comicbook,” a fictional comic series. Gonzalez’s work combines traditional comic book drawing techniques with digital coloring and lettering. His comic pages showcase his skills in both illustration and storytelling, focusing on the theme of street vendors.
Tonatiuh
Pierre Lucero is a freelance artist, animator, muralist, & apparel designer from Aurora, IL, USA. Self-taught, using mediums ranging anywhere from acrylics, colored markers, pen & ink, watercolors, graffiti, & graphite to capture an exploding psychedelic mix of eccentric artwork.
Delightful Women on a Beautiful Day
Marita Valdizan, a Peruvian-born artist and jewelry designer based in Naperville, Illinois, is renowned for her pioneering Mixed Media Wire Crochet Technique. She specializes in intricate wire crochet inspired by Peruvian traditions and other wire-based methods, crafting sculptures and mixed media artworks on canvas, as well as wearable art and jewelry. Marita integrates crocheted LED lights into select pieces of her artwork, enhancing her creative expression. Her craftsmanship spans various crochet techniques using diverse hook sizes and wire types, demonstrating her technical mastery and artistic versatility. She has garnered international acclaim for her artistic achievements, receiving prestigious awards such as the Gran Estrella de Plata in Peru and recognition from the Crochet Guild of America. Marita is also a coauthor of “Today’s Inspired Latina Volumen VI, European Edición,” highlighting her influential role as a Latina artist within her community. Passionate about sharing her expertise, she conducts workshops and contributes to local fundraisers, embodying her dedication to artistic innovation and community enrichment.
Mola Panama
A Mola is a traditional textile art form created by the indigenous Guna people of Panama. It involves intricate reverse appliqué and stitching techniques to create colorful designs and patterns.
Freedoom
Pat Nunez has a rich background, infusing her artwork with a blend of artistry and psychology to resonate with you. Inspired by color psychology, her abstract and modern pieces are crafted to evoke feelings of peace and harmony, perfect for enhancing your home or office ambiance. She has participated in exhibitions both in Illinois and in Mexico City, where she is originally from.
Amy
Jose, also known as Jose Art, has a passion for music and art, with over a decade dedicated to airbrush artistry. His motto is: Paint to live, live to paint
El Toro
Javier Vargas is an artist who, along with Maria Lopez Vargas, founded Javmar Arts in 2012. Based in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood, Javmar Arts specializes in creating handmade art that celebrates the area’s vibrant cultural heritage. Their work incorporates traditional textiles and techniques to produce visually striking and culturally significant pieces.
To My Unborn Daughter
Christopher Lucero, creator of Calaveras of Chicago, combines face painting and photography to celebrate diversity. He paints participant faces as Mexican sugar skulls and pairs their portraits with their life stories, showcasing unique experiences from Chicagoland. Christopher believes everyone has a story to share, offering valuable lessons through these diverse narratives.
Ceramic Demo
Nuna is an arts organization committed to fostering creativity and self-exploration through contemporary art. It promotes handcrafted programs in communities, providing a safe space for artists of all levels. Nuna encourages innovative and boundary-pushing artistic expression, creating a supportive environment for both experienced and emerging artists. The organization serves as a haven for artistic exploration, emphasizing modern and thought-provoking art forms while offering opportunities for curious individuals to discover their creative potential.
Flores de Paquimé
Daniel Ponce is a multidisciplinary artist from Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, Mexico, currently based in the northwest suburbs. His work spans painting, ceramics, and tattooing, with a focus on showcasing Mexican culture, particularly its indigenous heritage. Ponce’s art emphasizes the cultures of Paquimé (Casas Grandes), the Mexicas, and Toltecs. His preferred artistic style blends abstract, surrealist, and impressionist elements. Ponce is known for his experimental approach, working with various mediums and styles to express his cultural themes.
Midwest Cruise
Jacqueline is a versatile local artist with over 25 years of experience, specializing in collage, crochet, and plein air painting. Her work explores themes of ephemerality, existentialism, and the nuances of artistic process. Jacqueline views art as an evolving conversation between space, time, artist, and medium, rather than just an end product. Her practice focuses on capturing fleeting moments and mundane details of life, inviting viewers to contemplate their existence and find beauty in the present. Through various mediums, she creates pieces that reflect on interconnectedness, identity, and the human condition, encouraging reflection on life’s transient nature.
Untitled Vase
Juventino Paniagua is a rising Latino artist and ceramics instructor. He is known for his unique style that pushes the boundaries of traditional ceramics. Juventino experiments with various glaze combinations, surface textures, and innovative shapes in his pottery. He teaches at a local studio, sharing his expertise with students. Juventino also captivates audiences with live pottery wheel demonstrations, showcasing the process of transforming clay into art. His artistic philosophy emphasizes the connection between mind, body, and form in creating his work. As Juventino states, “Through mind, body, and form, I am able to create a fluid body of work.”
The Garden of Eden
Raul Rodea is a Mexican American multidisciplinary artist from Aurora, Illinois. His work fuses graffiti, abstract art, and figurative elements, notably featuring brain imagery to explore life’s dualities. Despite early challenges, he persevered, earning a BA in Art and Graphic Design in 2020. His unique style, characterized by explosive colors and mixed media, has led to collaborations with major brands like Nike and Tiffany & Co. FUNDTHEMENTAL’s art is recognized for its distinctive approach, blending street art influences with conceptual depth.
Aztec Calendar
Luz and Juan run a woodworking business in Aurora, IL. They offer laser engraving services and create handmade barrel decor, including mugs, wine barrels, and signs. Their product line also includes seasonal crafts and wood products. In 2022, they began producing Aztec-inspired items, such as the Aztec Calendar and representations of Jaguar and Eagle warriors. All products are made in their local wood shop.
Inspired by Frida
Miguel is a Chicagoland portrait photographer based in Bolingbrook, IL. Since 2011, he has specialized in fine art photographs of dancers, musicians, athletes, and other talented individuals. His work ranges from headshots and audition poses to action shots, helping clients market themselves. Miguel also offers in-studio and on-location graduate and family sessions.
In 2021, Miguel created Frida Kahlo-inspired portraits for the “Homage to Frida” art show in Wheaton. This project, coinciding with a Kahlo exhibition at the College of DuPage, involved a seven-hour shoot at local forest preserves, featuring three models styled to resemble the iconic artist.
Galaxy Flash
Johnny Felix is an Aurora-based artist who founded Talento Creations in 2021. Drawing inspiration from his love of baseball and admiration for Roberto Clemente, Johnny creates unique artwork using hologram glitter and glow-in-the-dark elements. His “Urban Pulse” series, inspired by heart monitors, honors his late mother-in-law. Johnny’s art often features inspirational quotes and aims to motivate both youth and adults. He’s collaborated with comedians, brands, and charitable projects, and his work has been showcased at Navy Pier and Art Basel Miami. Johnny actively engages with communities through school talks and art donations, spreading his message from Illinois to Los Angeles and even Ghana, Africa.
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