About The Artist
Israel Rico {Chicano Artist}
ARTSTAR INC. "Mixing Pop Culture and Chicano Imagery for a New Generation"
Website: artstarinc.weebly.com.
E-Mail: [email protected]
Instagram @ Artstar70
The aesthetics of Rico's work juxtaposes Chicano imagery and Pop-Culture.
Rico comments on his art “I have been asked if every piece of work has a story behind it and some do, but when I paint a “what if “situation in the mix it gives my work a twist. I like to take the imagery of our culture, whether it’s Aztec imagery, folklore, icons, and juxtapose them to canvas; it’s my artist mission in creating new Chicano imagery for the future.”
Rico a former Brackenridge High School Alum/ Southtown resident established himself in San Antonio through the San Anto Cultural Arts mural program including exhibits at Centro Cultural Aztlan, The Fiesta Bed & Breakfast, Mueso Alameda: San Antonio Branch of the Smithsonian Art Museum, and Clear Channel’s San Antonio Outdoor Billboard Digital Art Gallery, and many local artisan events.
He has yield three publishing credits illustrating the poetry book “Roses Do Not Blossom Overnight" written by Lisa Marie Domiguez Ruiz, and” En la Punta de la Lengua, Al Filo de la Imagen" a visual book about gender equality and violence against women his image ‘Wonder Virgen I’ was used. An event was held on October 25, 2012 at the Centro Cultural Universidadio Tlatelolco, Mexico City. The book was limited to 700 copies. In May 2017 Texas Monthly featured his work in an article of Josie Negley Gill's Historic King William home called "Life on the San Antonio River” she described Rico's art work as one of her favorite San Antonio based artists and describes the art piece as " 'puro San Antonio,' as we say here."
In Media on ABC during the 2014 NBA Finals telecast his "Leyendas Aztecas" Mural was shown during the Game 1 Pregame Show ESPN First Take on June 5, 2014 and again on Game 5 (during 1st Commercial Break) on June 16, 2014. In July 2016 his mural "Leyendas Aztecas was voted by the SA Current Magazine as one of the 18 murals every San Antonioan should see. The University of New Mexico on March 9, 2017 at the LGBTQ Resource Center a presentation by Andrea Quijada used the "Wonder Virgen I" image for her presentation “Queer Comix : A Celebration” In May 2018, he collaborated with Fiesta Medals Direct in producing six designs for medals a very popular cultural practice of collecting during Fiesta. Rico's art influences range to comic book artists: John Romita, Jack Kirby, Tood Mcfarlane; Rock Illustrators: Pushead, Derek Riggs, and Modern Artists: Diego Rivera, Jesus Helguera, Michelangelo, Leonardo, H.R. Giger, Frida Kahlo and Andreas Serrano. He is a fan of The Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Cubs, and Chicago Blackhawks. His favorite bands are Metallica, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, and Iron Maiden.
2021 Work
2020 Work
2019 Work
2018 Work
2017 Work
2016 Work
2015 Work
2014 Work
2013 Work
All art Copyright to Israel Rico
Images may not be used without the artists consent
Images may not be used without the artists consent