Tundraco's Daily Living Guide to Home & Garden Hispanic Art

The term Hispanic Art is a generic term used to describe art styles that derive from a diverse conglomeration of countries and ethnic groups. The only real unifying factor is that all works termed 'Hispanic' have some affinity with the Spanish language or with Spain, Latin America or Spanish speaking areas of the Caribbean.

As Spanish colonialist spanned out around the globe, they intermingled with a multitude of different cultures. Over time, Spanish colonial art styles began to take on distinctively different forms than the styles popular in Spain.

• In part, this was a result of the combining of Spanish art techniques and styles with indigenous ones.
• It also arose out of the need for the people to express themselves in ways, and with mediums, which fit in with their environment.

As the years past, each of these multifarious styles came to be associated with a given region or culture.

• For example, Mexican art is an amalgam of Spanish styles and the skills and styles of Mexico's native populations. It was, and is, influence by the unique social, economic, and political realities of the country.

Additionally, Hispanic artists have been, and are, influenced by every art style that has ever existed. All these influences combined allow each artist to develop his or her own distinctive style.

There are many unique styles contained within the broader scope of the term Hispanic Art. For the most part, these styles are identified with the country where they were first developed and are given titles such as:

• Spanish

• Latino
• Chicano

• Mexican

• Cuban

• Latin American

Many Hispanic artists also work in traditional western and eastern styles, as well in multi-cultural contemporary styles.

Because Hispanic art covers such a broad area, there is not a single set of leading artists. Rather, there are a variety of leaders. Each leader specializes in a specific style, technique, or medium.

Some of the well-known leaders are:

• Xavier Cortada, a Cuban-American painter whose work advocates for social change.
• El Greco, Francisco de Goya, Pablo Picasso, and Salvador Dali, are all Spanish masters that still have a strong following.
• Jesús Moroles, is an innovative Latino sculpture who works in granite. His extraordinary works are exhibited around the world.
• Frida Kahlo, who died in 1954, was a crossover Mexican/Latino artist. Her work became so popular in the 1980's that it triggered a renewed surge of interest in Hispanic art.

The answer is a resounding yes. Due to the diversity inherent under the banner of Hispanic Art, there is literally something for everyone.

• As a whole, Hispanic Art is known for being bright and vibrant. These works tend to be emotionally charged. As such, they easily add a sense of vitality to a room.
• Hispanic art is also known for being associate with political expression and for being infused with a sense of spirituality.