César Augusto Martínez
Title: Fulana
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 28” x 28”
Year: 2008
The UTSA Art Collection
Location of Painting: Biotechnology, Sciences and Engineering Building
BS3 2.106 UTSA
César Augusto Martínez is a prominent Chicano artist from Laredo, Texas who is famous for his series of haunting portraits of Chicano individuals who confront the viewer and stand up for their culture at the same time. With vivid colors and a characteristic Mexican “naive” style of painting, the individuals are depicted in a straightforward and imposing manner against a flat background that emphasizes the individual on display.
Martínez studied at what was then called Texas A&I College, and later became Texas A&I University. He became marginally involved in the Chicano movement for civil rights and became close friends with several of its leaders, among them, Carlos Guerra, a columnist with the San Antonio Express-News. The Batos series and his sets of portraits reflect Martinez’ determination to record the essence of Chicano culture.
The piece is part of The UTSA Art Collection, Curator Arturo Infante Almeida.
About the curator:
Arturo Infante Almeida was born in Brownsville, Texas in 1962. At a young age, Almeida moved to Corpus Christi where he later became an artist and independent curator. Almeida enrolled at Del Mar College and continued his studies in photography at San Antonio College and the Southwest School of Art and Craft. In 2000, Almeida established the Café Latino Gallery. In 2003, Almeida joined The University of Texas at San Antonio as Curator of the UTSA Art Collection under President Ricardo Romo. He studies in both composition and nature, reminiscent of the work of Edward Weston, Almeida’s photography delivers dramatic visions of the everyday; elevating these common sights to a place where they stand alone as works of art. According to the artist, given the nature of digital photography, he prefers to use natural light. He enjoys the wide range of digital technology that is available to create a photographic image.
If you have any questions, Regarding The UTSA Art Collection. Please contact:
Arturo Infante Almeida
Art Specialist/Curator for the UTSA Art Collection
The University of Texas at San Antonio
Office of the President
One UTSA Circle
San Antonio, Texas 78249-0601
office: 210.458.4983
fax: 210.458-5121
arturo.almeida@utsa.edu
