'Politics of Portrayal' Three Generations of Chicana Portraiture in Los Angeles In Conversation with San Diego Artists

On view Feb. 9 - March 5. Join us for the reception on Wednesday, February 11, 4 - 7 p.m. This powerful intergenerational exhibition of Chicana portraiture brings together artists from Los Angeles and San Diego to explore identity, memory, activism, and healing through the human figure. Blending contemporary realities with ancestral memory, these figurative works honor matriarchal lineages, personal narratives, and an enduring commitment to social justice.

Originally curated Sybil Venegas for Avenue 50 Studio in Los Angeles, this exhibition includes artists from different generations—Baby Boomers, Gen X and Millennials. The expanded presentation in San Diego includes local artists Marianela de la Hoz, Katie Ruiz, and Ale Ruiz Tostado, presenting their work alongside their Angeleno counterparts. Intrinsically connected to Mexico and the border, cultural influences are evident in these artists’ paintings, which align with the legacy of Chicano art while also paying tribute to long-standing Latin American traditions of magical realism and folk art.

Free parking on reception night, Parking Lot 1 off Marlesta entrance to campus. Park on STAFF spots.

Regular Gallery Hours: M-Th 12 - 5 p.m.

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