“Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and Mexican Modernism in the USA and Their Worldwide Contributions” is a look at the widespread legacy of Mexico’s avant-garde artists, presented in conjunction with Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and Mexican Modernism from the Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection. Join Portland-based artist and educator, Hector H Hernandez, in a lecture that reflects upon this movement’s influence within the United States, along with the artistic contributions of Kahlo and Rivera within US art circles. Drawing upon his own art practice, mural painting, and Chicanx identity, Hernandez considers the ways in which Mexican Modernist artists departed from European models of creative expression to forge a unique voice that responds to such European hegemony and echoes through the work of today’s artists.
Mr. Hernandez’ first experience painting murals was achieved in Mexico City while studying a program in Social Anthropology. In that opportunity Mr. Hernandez participated as collaborator for two murals under the guidance of the Mexican master painter Arnold Belkin. This experience allowed him to follow a path to community murals from the teachings of the Mexican school of painting. Since then, his academic training gained in painting murals has focused on community murals with an academic background, so Mr. Hernandez may reach new generations of painters and community artists.
Following his academic formation Mr. Hernandez received the MFA from the University of Oregon in 1999 in painting and a MIS in Art and Education, with a Bachelor in FA in addition to an undergraduate degree in Social Anthropology. He has had his work published in books in Europe.
In addition to work on mural art Mr. Hernandez has taught art history and culture of Mexico. Currently Mr. Hernandez has been teaching mural painting at Portland State University and Chemeketa Community College for the last 12 years, and also has developed an exchange program with National School of Sculpture, Engraving and Painting “La Esmeralda” in Mexico City, painting murals with students from both Universities.