Today we’d like to introduce you to Edwin Vasquez
Hi Edwin, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I have been an artist all my life. I grew up in Quetzaltenango, also known as Xelajú, a city celebrated as the cradle of culture in Guatemala. As a young person with dreams of pursuing art as a profession, I sought guidance to navigate the bureaucracy required to study art in the capital city. Unfortunately, I was told to forget about it and received no support.
When I moved to California, I asked if it was possible to study art here, and the answer was yes. However, as an immigrant who didn’t speak English and discovered how expensive it was to attend art school, the dream felt unattainable. My priorities shifted to assimilating into my new country and learning English. Once I became fluent, I wrote a quote on a piece of paper that still resonates with me today: “English is like a drug addiction; I struggle with it every day.”
Despite not attending art school, I didn’t let that discourage me. I bought canvases, used art supplies, and books about art from yard sales. Whenever I wasn’t working, I spent time visiting galleries and museums. Over time, I began creating and selling my own art, fully embracing the journey of being a self-taught artist.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Because of my experience in Guatemala, I decided I was going to help the artists in my community. Many artists were struggling to find places to show because we don’t have many galleries in the Antelope Valley, so I started working with local restaurants and cafes to bring more people to these businesses by curating shows in their spaces. I organized workshops and worked one-on-one with newer artists by helping them write art statements, teaching them how to properly prepare and wire an art piece, and advising them on how to present a professional portfolio to galleries in Los Angeles. For fifteen years, I did all that with my own money to cover the costs, knowing that I was once again not making my art career a priority.
Due to my upbringing, I don’t ask for help or assistance, even though I chose a difficult path that requires making money to survive. Nobody told me that art is also a business. However, I don’t regret that time helping my community because it gave me a decent reputation, and those experiences shaped me into who I am today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a multidisciplinary artist currently serving my second term as an Art Commissioner for the City of Palmdale. My journey as an artist has been shaped by a commitment to embracing new opportunities, wherever they may arise.
Two years ago, I began an ongoing project titled #TheJoshuaTreeChronicles, which explores the Joshua tree in the Antelope Valley, stretching from Pearblossom to Tehachapi. This series has resonated with my local community and enabled me to showcase my mixed media paintings in significant venues beyond the area.
Notable exhibitions include:
• A semester-long show at UCLA’s Chicano Studies Center.
• Curating Friends of the Joshua, a group show at Legacy Commons in Palmdale, CA.
• Participating in New Wave, a group show at Western Gallery in Koreatown, where I exhibited several Joshua tree artworks.
• A solo exhibition at Avenue 50 Gallery, featuring a collection of my mixed media Joshua tree works.
My dedication to this series earned me the Phillip and Muriel Berman Grant, which supported the creation of an art installation at Angels Gate Cultural Center in San Pedro, CA.
Additionally, I have been accepted three times into the prestigious Brand Works on Paper Annual National Juried Exhibition. My piece, New World Fashion, won the Associates Award and was recently acquired by a long-time art collector.
Currently, I have a solo show at the esteemed Onodream Gallery, an online platform, which features 45 of the over 100 clay masks I created during the lockdown. I am deeply grateful to Maestro Warren Scherich Jr., MFA, for providing the clay and access to his studio, which made this project possible.
Recently, I have focused on creating installations, as the large scale allows me to address uncomfortable topics in a compelling and thought-provoking way. Recently, I am participating in a group show titled The Arcade of Hypermodernity, curated by Jason Jenn and Vojislav Radovanovic, at Studio Channel Islands.
My piece, “Shooting Range”, confronts the issue of mass gun violence. I repurposed crutches to resemble rifles, akin to those used in carnival games, as a metaphor for our broken Congress. The crutches are mounted in holsters made from two concrete blocks labeled “Thoughts” and “Prayers”, written in red to symbolize the innocent blood spilled while politicians offer empty words instead of enacting meaningful legislation to prevent further violence.
At the end of the installation, scattered on the floor like carnival prizes, are toys representing the young victims—children who will never have the chance to play again.
As Luis Buñuel once said, “An artist cannot change the world. But they can keep alive an essential margin of nonconformity.” This sentiment inspires my work. Through my installations, I strive to preserve that vital spirit of dissent and challenge the status quo.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I love to read for pleasure. My favorite books include Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, Ficciones by Jorge Luis Borges, Parnaso Quetzalteco by Rigoberto Bran Azmitia, and El Señor Presidente by Miguel Angel Asturias Rosales. Lately, I have been mostly listening to audiobooks because I can make art while educating myself. I am currently reading “There is Always This Year – On Basketball and Ascension by Hanif Abdurraqib.
I also have on my phone an app for WHRB, 95.3FM, which is Harvard Radio. While my son attended Harvard, he became the president of the radio station and introduced me to some of the best jazz music from around the world.
Aside from making art, I am a poet. 30 years ago, I promised myself I would one day publish my poetry and turn it into a cassette tape. I also wanted to make videos using my poems as audio. I did self-publish my poetry many years ago, but with all the new technology available these days, I have started making music with AI, using my poems as lyrics. Achieving this dream of mine has elevated my self-confidence and helped me think about the legacy I will leave behind. People can listen to my music on my YouTube channel edwinvasquez100 and if you like it please subscribe.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://edwinvasquez.net
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/edwinvasquez
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edwin.vasquez.963/
- Youtube: Youtube edwinvasquez100
