ALTOGALLERY

Opening reception: First Friday, June 7, 2024, 6 - 10 PM

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ARTIST STATEMENT

 

I am an unapologetic Chicana Artist who paints and does art from my soul. My colors are bright and my subject matter comes from the fact that I have lived in Colorado all my life. My parents come from Colorado and so do my Grandparents and their Parents. I really don’t know how back but I do know that there is some Spanish, French and Native American in my blood. Growing up near Denver, my siblings, cousins and I were the only brown people among our friends at school and church, so I grew up very American immersed in white culture. That partially changed when I was introduced to my Chicano(a) culture and history as a young teen during the summer I went to Escuela Tlatelolco. This was the first year of the Escuela during a time of great political upheaval. It was thrilling to connect to part of myself and learn traditional crafts, chant in protest marches, attend Mexican celebrations in Colorado and sing songs in

Spanish. I called myself a Chicana at that time and haven’t changed my identity in all my years since.

 

I am an Artist who has for most of my adult life taught children their Hispanic, Latino, Chicano culture, heritage and history through art. I am now giving myself time to paint. I paint what I feel and what makes me feel good about who I am and what I have to share with the world. No apologies if my art doesn’t exactly fit the mold of highfalutin, bland wall art.

 

BIO

 

Arlette Lucero earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the Colorado State University in Fort Collins and completed two years of graphic arts through the Community College of Denver. She has taught art education for over 15 years in Colorado and is an active volunteer and current member at the Chicano Humanities and Arts Council of Denver. Lucero also has over 30 years of experience as a fine artist, professional graphic artist, children book illustrator, and Chicana crafter. Arlette has been involved with a number of local nonprofits as a Mentor Teacher Artist, bringing her into many schools, libraries and recreational facilities. These include ArtReach, ArtsStreet, Colorado Folk Arts, Journey Through Our Heritage, Kidzart, Museo de las Americas, Mizel Center for Arts and Culture, Mizel Museum, Voz y Corazon, as well as a variety of local neighborhood organizations. She was the Art Teacher at Escuela de Guadalupe for seven years. She was the Education Director for CHAC Gallery for 5 years. Currently she is volunteering to curate shows for various galleries including Art Contained del Sol and focused on her art career.