Tucson artist Alejandro Macias addresses themes of heritage, immigration, and ethnicity in his work driven by his Mexican-American identity and the current social-political climate.
Alejandro Macias’s work is driven by his Mexican-American identity and the current social-political climate. Raised in the Rio Grande Valley, his body of work addresses themes of heritage, immigration, and ethnicity, which are set in contrast to his critical engagement with the assimilation and acculturation process often referred to as “Americanization.”
“My most recent work brings to light a number of topics that not only reflect my own humanity as a Mexican-American, but a wider range of borderland, Latinx, and contemporary societal issues. I draw my inspiration from many Chicanx activists and two-dimensional artists who have addressed and propelled issues of identity, assimilation, repression, civil rights, immigration, and cultural misconceptions to a broader audience.
Originally from Brownsville, Texas along the U.S.-Mexico border, and as a current Southern Arizona resident, I often think about the conflict and merging of two cultures. My conceptual ideas point out the struggles and dangers of the assimilation process, which can be seen as erasure of history, heritage, and culture.”
Macias received an MFA in two-dimensional studio art from the University of Texas-Pan American in 2012 and a BA from the University of Texas at Brownsville in 2008. His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. Since 2016 he has been the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions including residencies at Centrum in Port Townsend, Washington, Vermont Studio Center, Chateau d’Orquevaux, the Studios at MASS MoCA, and the Wassaic Project. He currently serves as an assistant professor at the University of Arizona School of Art in Tucson.
Tucson, AZ | alexmaciasart.com | @alex.macias.art