SPAC featured Artist:Christo Oropeza

photo by Christo Oropeza

Christo Oropeza:

Christo Oropeza is a Xicano artist born and raised in San Francisco. He is an Alumnus of San Francisco State and graduated with a BA in Art with an emphasis in Painting & Drawing. Christo formed the San Pancho Art Collective in March of 2009, with the help of his colleagues. He currently works at the San Francisco Museum Of Modern Art and is a photo-contributor to the SFMOMA Open Space blog.

His most recent work includes co-designing and painting a commissioned mural for Mission Pie on the Corner of 25th st. and Lilac in the Mission District “Old Soil, New Roots”,and he continues to paint and exhibit work in San Francisco.

Click HERE for samples of Christo’s artwork on SPAC’s HomePage

SPAC featured Artist:Max Allbee

photo by Christo Oropeza

Max Allbee:

Max Allbee is a painter, muralist and art teacher from San Francisco.  Max focuses primarily on community–based, public mural projects.  His graphic style is heavily influenced by his experiences growing up in the street art–saturated city, as well as living and traveling in Central and South America. His work can be found on walls in San Francisco, Palo Alto, as well as Nicaragua and Cuba.

More recently, Max co-designed & painted the SPAC mural “Old Soil, New Roots” at Mission Pie.

Click HERE to view samples of Max’s artwork on SPAC’s HomePage

SPAC featured Artist:Paul Jimenez

photo by Christo Oropeza

Paul Jimenez:

“I believe painting is the best way to truly express my imagination to the public. At this moment my paintings focus on narrative themes. I prefer using images as allegories to explain the narrative: for example, the human form, mechanical objects and nature. The artistic process, no matter how convoluted, always starts with a simple idea. Then, I begin to collect images from popular culture and mass media. When I have all my referential material, then I decide how to place the images so the narrative is prominent. From there I might use the color copy machine to distort the image, such as moving the image as it is being photocopied. I always begin my painting process with a quick wash of burnt umber. Then, I use chalk to outline the image.”

“My biggest inspirations come from pop culture. Jimi Hendrix is the biggest influence in my life because his music broadens my mind beyond conventional ideas. While listening to his songs I gather ideas for paintings, and how I can manipulate the idea of the song to use it in a unique way. Tattoos are another influence because of their inherent beauty and the statement they make to the public. A tattoo says to me the individual wants to stand out, and show not only they are, but everyone is inimitable. The art of M.C. Escher and Salvador Dali also constantly inspire my own artwork by encouraging me to continually question the concepts my work displays. Not only am I encouraged to question the concepts in my own work, I also hope the audience will investigate how themes are explored in my work as well. The meaning of the word ‘artist’ to me is one who makes work that tells stories from life, songs, and imagination.”

Click HERE to see samples of Paul’s work on SPAC’s HomePage

Click HERE to see Paul Jimenez’s Website

SPAC featured Artist:Tania Padilla

photo by Christo Oropeza

Tania Padilla:

Tania Padilla is the founder and director of Puppet Medicine Theater Company in San Francisco. She is a filmmaker, puppeteer, illustrator and mixed media artist. She has been performing as a puppeteer both locally and internationally since 2005. She received a BFA in Experimental Animation from CalArts in 2006.

Click HERE to see Samples of Tania’s Artwork on SPAC’s HomePage

SPAC featured Artist:Socrates Parra

photo by Christo Oropeza

Socrates Parra:

Socrates (aka Persia) Parra, 27, is a drag performer at Esta Noche, a gay Latino dance club in the Mission District. Born and raised in South Central Los Angeles, Parra started off photographing drag performers at popular LA hotspots like Circus Disco while working as a teaching assistant for University Elementary School at UCLA.

He later made his way to San Francisco to attend a post-baccalaureate program at the San Francisco Art Institute. Once here, he indulged in drag shows at venues like Trannyshack and various locations around the city.

Click HERE to see a VIDEO of Socrated “Persia” Parra on SPAC’s HomePage. Once there, click on the picture of the video to start it.

SPAC featured Artist:Joel Oropeza

photo by Christo Oropeza

Joel Oropeza:

BORN & RAISED IN SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, THE CITY CONSTANTLY INSPIRES ME. WITHOUT AN FORMAL TRAINING I SET ME OWN LIMITS, RULES & THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX. WITH MY CAMERA AT HAND & MY EYES AS GUIDES, I CAPTURE MOMENTS IN TIME, WHICH WE WILL NEVER GET BACK. MANY WILL TAKE THESE INSTANTS FOR GRANTED, I WELCOME EVERY SECOND.

Click HERE to see samples of Joel Oropeza’s Artwork on SPAC’s HomePage

Click HERE to view Joel’s WEBPAGE

SPAC featured Artist:Jin Chon

photo by Christo Oropeza

Jin Chon:

Born in 1984 and a native to California, Jin Chon has lived in San Francisco for seven years. She graduated from San Francisco State University in 2007 with a BA in Art History and Fine Art with a specialization in painting and drawing. Her work has been exhibited in numerous galleries throughout San Francisco.

“Chon is interested in exploring the different characteristics and structures of art media. In her work she creates layers of depth and meaning, which add to the surreal quality her acrylic paintings posses. Her figurative work captures an alluring beauty that is concurrently playful and serious in content and style. Subjects range from serious and almost twisted portraiture to playful and quirky birds. Through painting she hopes to gain a deeper understanding of her subconscious while exploring different mediums.”

Click HERE to see samples of Jin’s work on San Pancho Art Collective’s HomePage!

SPAC featured Artist:Ray Ortiz

photo by Christo Oropeza

Raymond Ortiz began making art from the first moment he could hold a crayon, though growing up he never considered or labeled himself an artist. Ray came more into art during high school when he became fascinated with urban street art. He found himself getting to know the graffiti scene and became a part of it.

During the end of his college career he found something was missing from his life; a solid background in Studio Art focusing on methods and techniques that he knew intuitively but couldn’t really grasp without some guidance. It was during this time that Ray began to explore figure drawing, oil/ acrylic painting, and mixed media.

Click HERE to see samples of Ray’s work on San Pancho Art Collective’s Homepage!

SPAC featured Artist:Homero Hidalgo

photo by Christo Oropeza

Homero Hidalgo:

Homero was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador May 7th, 1980. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1995, living in Miami, FL until 2004. Currently, Homero lives and works in San Francisco, CA.

Click HERE to see samples of Homero’s work on San Pancho Art Collective’s HomePage

SPAC featured Artist:Vanessa Varela

photo by Christo Oropeza

Vanessa Varela

Vanessa Varela was born and raised in Stockton, California and now lives in San Francisco. She is finishing up her BFA at San Francisco State University with a dual emphasis in Painting and Art History.

Click HERE to see samples of Vanessa’s artwork on SPAC’s Homepage