Las Vegas Latinx Artists

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, we're highlighting three Latinx artists who have contributed artwork to the city. 

Natalie Delgado

Which of your pieces was featured by the city? 

Displaced, Oil on Canvas - Inspired by the importance of  preserving Gold Butte National Monument 

Merged, Oil on Canvas - Inspired by the wildlife of the Mojave and Sierra Nevada Deserts

What inspires your art/work?

My background in science and my love of nature tends to influence my work. I enjoyed observing and searching for intricate patterns and textures found in the deserts I grew up playing in. 

What/who has been your biggest influence? 

Local artist Sierra Slentz has probably been my biggest influence (and biggest supporter) over the past eight years. Sierra's innate ability to use sculpture and installation art to convey her love of the desert, memories of her childhood, and observations of man's effect/imprint on nature is so incredible to witness. I am also very inspired by artists who have a passion for science and recognizing aesthetics found in nature. Ernst Haeckel, Marco Mazzoni, Jenny Bird Alcantara and Beth Cavener are just a few of the artists I turn to for inspiration. 

How has Latinx culture influenced the Las Vegas local art scene? 

It is very evident that our local Latinx artists are incredible, creative thinkers, who choose to incorporate their family history and cultural heritage into their work. I finally feel like our voices are noticeably amplified in the Las Vegas art scene, and it's a wonderful moment to witness.

What Latinx artist should we be paying attention to? 

Zully Mejia is a former student of mine and I have always enjoyed observing her intense concentration in painting and her acute attention to detail. She is going to accomplish wonderful things in her artistic career. 

What is your advice for aspiring Latinx artists? 

Speak to our communities. Be it through your artwork, through writing or with your actual voice. Speak to your specific experiences and remember there are people just like you who are eager to listen! 

Yasmina Chavez

Which of your pieces was featured by the city? 

The "Suchness of Light" was exhibited at two local libraries: Summerlin Library in 2019 and  East Bonanza Library in 2020. The show is made up of a series of experimental photographic black and white darkroom silver gelatin mono-prints, exploring the elements of a photo, also known as concrete photography. The images are imbued with aspects of Zen philosophy including spontaneity, the absence of the objective world or more specifically in this case, the dissolving of conventional photography, and the idea of being present. I had just started exploring this project idea when local jazz musician Julian Tanaka approached me to create the album art for his ensemble's Double Fist album.  We decided to team up for a simultaneous art opening and album release reception in 2019. I exhibited the 20 best prints that came out of my exploration and he performed the album live with a full ensemble at the Summerlin library. The principals that jazz follows are also very Zen. In other words, Julian and I are on the same creative wavelength.

What inspires your art/work?

Society's attempts at navigating conventions of self and identity.

What/who has been your biggest influence?

Time, filmmakers, early performance artists and the desert have inspired my work.

How has Latinx culture influenced the Las Vegas local art scene?

It's hard to know because I don't keep up with social media or the many events always happenings virtual or otherwise. If I attempt to answer, I would say that the Latinx community, birthed from a distanced Latino culture, is perhaps bridging or connecting America/Las Vegas to part of its soul and in doing so empowers itself to be acknowledged in policy. 

 What Latinx artist should we be paying attention to?

All of them.

What is your advice for aspiring Latinx artists?

Don't focus on the labels instilled upon you by others. Continue exploring your own existence and experience of it and of course sharing it so that we can continue to connect to one another as human beings and maybe one day as a peaceful human society with fluid identities.

Luis Varela-Rico

Which of your pieces was featured by the city? Provide the name of the piece, description, inspiration and high resolution photos if possible.

“Radial Symmetry “ was featured by the city.  It was inspired by Paiute Indian Culture.

What inspires your art/work?

Richard Serra, Brutalism, mid century design and heavy industry inform my work.

What Latinx artist should we be paying attention to?

I think Cristian Sosa is a Latinx artist to keep an eye on. He is a local metal shaper.

What is your advice for aspiring Latinx artists?

My advice to Latinx artist is to be proud and know your worth because I feel that as a people we have a tendency to discount ourselves.