HUGO XIMELLO-SALIDO

Hugo Ximello-Salido is a Mexican-American artist whose work explores cultural identity and contemporary society. He calls his work an act of “hope” to challenge stereotypes and commercialization. He describes his art as “an expulsion of demons and a dispensation of beauty.” Hugo’s major inspiration is Mexican colonial style, “La Catrina” (the elegant skull), and other culturally significant symbols such as La Loteria Mexicana (Mexican bingo), papel picado (perforated tissue paper), and Talavera. “I use a variety of materials, including acrylic paint, ink, gels, sand, papier-mâché, spray paint, and more to modernize, revive, and reinvent the Mexican art that inspires me.” Born and raised in Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco, Mexico, Hugo’s painting stems from a family background full of artists, a path he embraced when he came to Kansas City and wanted to express the shock of communicating within a whole new culture. His paintings have been displayed in galleries and at events in both Mexico and the United States (including at the Agora Gallery in New York City), and featured in documentary, “Art Views: Creativity and Culture in Kansas City.” “I am fascinated by the dialogue between different cultures and traditions. Through my work, I strive to increase social awareness of the many parts of my intersectional identity and experience as a Mexican-American member of the LGBTQ community…. Three Things I Believe As An Artist. Anyone can create art; Art should be accessible and affordable to everyone; All work should be original.”