BORN
1966 in Los Angeles, California
 
EDUCATION 
2009    Masters of Fine Art, Spatial Art, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
1989    Certificate of Art, Graduate Program, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA
1988    Bachelors of Art, Studio Arts, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA          
 
EXHIBITIONS & ART PROJECTS

2024

The Calligraphy of Absence, group exhibition, Patricia Sweetow Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

Material Concerns - Works by Pilar Agüero-Esparza & Hector Dionicio Mendoza, Art & Art History Dept Art Gallery, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA

Crafted Continuum, solo exhibition, Castellano Fine Arts Center Gallery, San Jose City College, San Jose, CA

Process, Curated by Karen M. Gutfreund,  Art Works Downtown, San Rafael, CA

Uprooted: Reflections on Relocation & Resilience, The Barn Gallery at YoloArts, Woodland, CA

2023

Diversity Index, Art Kiosk, Fung Collaboratives, Redwood City, CA

The De Young Open 2023, Triennial Juried Exhibit, De Young Museum, San Francisco, CA

Intertwined, Group Exhibition, Ruth's Table, San Francisco, CA

FEMM: Feminine Expression Minus Misogyny, Empire Seven Studios, San Jose, CA

Tierra y Raíces/Earth & Roots, Curator: Joe Miller, Mexican Heritage Plaza Gallery, San Jose, CA

2022

2021

2020

Over and Under, Juror: Kevin B. Chen, Richmond Art Center, Richmond, CA

2020 Left Coast Annual Exhibition, Juror: Carin Adams, Sanchez Art Center, Pacifica, CA.

25@25: A Community of Artists, Visual & Public Art Gallery, California State University, Monterey Bay, College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, Seaside, CA

2019

Drawing, SITE:BROOKLYN Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

Art+Movement, Juror: Maria Porges, Gearbox Gallery, Oakland, CA

Colorism: The Spectrum of Internalized Bias, Root Division, San Francisco, CA
The US-Mexico Border, Maison Folie Wazemmes, Lille3000/Eldorado, Lille, France
United Search, Jeff King & Co, San Francisco, CA
48 Pillars, Arc Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Solo Exhibition, Ronald M. George State Office Complex Galleries, San Francisco, CA

2018
Color Perception, solo exhibition, San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles, San Jose, CA

7th Xicanx Biennial: Muxeres Rising, MACLA, San Jose, CA

Care and Feeding: The Art of Parenthood, Palo Alto Art Center, Palo Alto, CA
The U.S.-Mexico Border: Place, Imagination, and Possibility, 516 ARTS, Albuquerque, NM.
stARTup//Small Works, San Francisco, CA
20th Latino Art Now! Exhibition, MACLA, San Jose, CA

2017
The U.S.-Mexico Border: Place, Imagination, and Possibility, Craft Contemporary, Los Angeles, CA.
ICONIC: Black Panther, Gregorio Escalante Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Solo Exhibition, stARTup Fair, San Francisco, CA
19th Latino Art Now! Exhibition, MACLA, San Jose, CA
Taking Liberties, 40th anniversary Member Exhibition, Works, San Jose, CA

2016
Plantilla 8, art commission, MACLA, design digitally printed on window shades for MACLA building facade
ANNE & MARKS’S Art Party: An Occasional & Irrational San Jose Arts Fest, San Jose, CA
18th Latino Art Now! Exhibition, MACLA, San Jose, CA
 
2015
Found in Translation, group exhibition, MACLA, San Jose, CA
17th Latino Art Now! Exhibition, MACLA, San Jose, CA
Works/San José, Benefit Art Auction Exhibition, San Jose, CA
 
2014
ANNE & MARKS’S Art Party: An Occasional & Irrational San Jose Arts Fest, San Jose, CA
16th Latino Art Now! Exhibition, MACLA, San Jose, CA
 
2013
San Jose State University Centennial Celebration: Alumni Exhibition, Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA
15th Latino Art Now! Exhibition, MACLA, San Jose, CA
 
2012
Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead Group Exhibition, Education Gallery, National Steinbeck Center, Salinas, CA
 
2011
ANNE & MARKS’S Art Party: An Occasional & Irrational San Jose Arts Fest, San Jose, CA
 
2010    
El Shop, in collaboration with artist H. Dio Mendoza, commissioned by ZER01
Out of the Garage, ZER01 Biennial, Art & Technology Exhibition, San Jose, CA
Xicana: Spiritual Reflections/Reflexiones Espirituales, group exhibition, Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA
 
2009    
ANNE & MARKS’S Art Party: An Occasional & Irrational San Jose Arts Fest, San Jose, CA
Monotype Marathon, collaborative print with Michelle Longosz, Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA
Espada de Dos Filos: Latina Artists – California & New York. Arte Americas Gallery, Fresno, CA
Strange Hope: An ephemeral exhibition celebrating new beginnings and creative economies, Galería de la Raza, San Francisco, CA   
 
2008    
Beyond Child’s Play: Pilar Agüero-Esparza & Juan Carlos Quintana, Two person exhibit, MACLA/San Jose Center for Latino Arts, San Jose, CA
ANNE & MARKS’S Art Party: An Occasional & Irrational San Jose Arts Fest, San Jose, CA
Monotype Marathon, Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA
 
2007    
Homework, Solo Exhibition, Gallery 3, San Jose State University, Art Bldg., San Jose, CA
Day of the Dead Exhibition, group show, Education Gallery, De Young Museum, San Francisco, CA
Monotype Marathon, Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA
 
2006
Mind Maps: Visiting the Unexpected Labyrinths of the Mind, group exhibit, Galería de la Raza, San Francisco, CA
 
2005
Codes of Conduct, Works Gallery, San Jose, CA
No Child Left, solo exhibit, Gallery 8, San Jose State University, Art Bldg., San Jose, CA
Material Moments, Gualala Arts Center, Gualala, CA
Day of the Dead Exhibition, Mission Cultural Center Gallery, San Francisco    
 
2004
Paper Works, Solo Exhibition, Gallery 2, San Jose State University, Art Bldg., San Jose, CA
Monotype Marathon, Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA
 
2002
Cabinets of Curiosities: The Spiritual Lives of Four San Jose Collectors, MACLA/San Jose Center for Latino Arts, San Jose, CA
Magician’s Day Off & Other Stories, Euphrat Museum of Art, De Anza College, Cupertino, CA
Ag: Works 25, Works/San Jose, San Jose, CA
Monotype Marathon, Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA
 
2001
Current Holdings: Bay Area Drawing/Bay Area Collections, Palo Alto Art Center, Palo Alto, CA
Talking to Myself: Culture, Fantasy & the Domestic Condition, Porter Troupe Gallery, San Diego, CA
Namenlosen, Anno Domini Gallery, San Jose, CA
Group Exhibition, d.p. Fong Gallery, San Jose, CA
Monotype Marathon, Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA
 
2000
Piecing It Together: A Visual Journal, Museum of Art & History, Santa Cruz, CA
Latino Art Auction 2000, MACLA/San Jose Center for Latino Arts, San Jose, CA
Monotype Marathon, Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA
Intima: Group Exhibition, Encantada Gallery, San Francisco, CA
 
1999
Vida en Los Dichos/Life in Proverbs, Public Art Commission, City of San Jose Public Library
Piecing It Together: A Visual Journal, San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose, CA
Monotype Marathon, Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA
 
1998
Monotype Marathon, Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA
 
1997
Que Es Chicano? What is Chicana? Marie Elias Center for the Arts, Santa Ana, CA
Monotype Marathon, Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA
Group Exhibition, Synopsys Incorporated, Mountain View, CA
 
1996
La Voz, Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA
Feast for the Dead, Museum of Art & History, Santa Cruz, CA
Monotype Marathon, Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA
Group Exhibition, d.p. Fong Galleries, San Jose, CA
 
1995
A Defiant Legacy 1970 – 1995: 25th Anniversary Exhibition of Galeria de La Raza, Center for the Arts at Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco, CA
Que Viva Tu Recuerdo: Altars & Offerings for Days of the Dead, Oakland Museum of California, Oakland, CA
Another Life Up Inside Her Head, Galeria de La Raza, San Francisco, CA
Monotype Marathon, Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA
 
1994
Absence of Gravity, solo exhibit, Sesnon Micro Gallery, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA
Solo Exhibition, d.p. Fong Gallery, San Jose, CA
Mil Vidas, Mission Cultural Center, San Francisco, CA
 
1993
Solo Exhibition, Union Gallery, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
Symbol/Ritual: Contemporary Altars, MACLA/San Jose Center for Latino Arts, San Jose, CA
Spirited Canvases I, d.p. Fong Galleries, San Jose, CA
 
1992
Group Exhibition, San Mateo Arts Council Gallery, San Mateo, CA
Juried Exhibition, Gallery House, Palo Alto, CA
Women to Women, Juried Exhibition, Fort Mason Bayfront Gallery, San Francisco, CA
 
1991
Reflections from the Soul: Contemporary Mexican-American Artists, Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA
Latino Artist Collective, Pacific Bell Corporation, San Ramon, CA
 
PUBLIC ART/PUBLIC SPACE INTERVENTIONS

2023

New work, Diversity Index, mixed media installation in the Art Kiosk, commissioned by Fung Collaboratives, Redwood City, CA

2022

New work, Of Color, commissioned and created for the exhibition, Claiming Space: Refiguring the body in Landscape, Montalvo Art Center, Saratoga, CA.

2016   
Plantilla 8, art commission, MACLA, digitally printed design on window shades for the building facade
 
2014    
Canción Courtyard, in collaboration with artist Hector Dio Mendoza, commissioned by City of Morgan Hill, CA – interactive project involving music and art to establish creative place-making for PARK(ing) Day 2014 in downtown Morgan Hill.
Member, MACLA Facilities Design Committee with artist and architect Teddy Cruz, ongoing.
 
2010    
Participant, Multicultural Arts Leadership Institute (MALI) Class 3 – year-long professional development experience focused specifically for artists of color, emphasizing networking and community engagement.
 
El Shop Residency, Los Angeles, CA – Two-week residency in collaboration with artist H. Dio Mendoza at my parent’s shoe repair shop in South Central LA. Besides apprenticing with my parents, we conducted interviews with them for a video we produced in collaboration with Tricia Creeson-Valencia of Flaca Films. Project was funded by a grant from ZERO1 and selected for the 2010 Biennial.
 
South Hall Artist Residency, ZER01 Biennial –Two-week residency in collaboration with artist H. Dio Mendoza making the production involved in the fabrication of handmade huaraches a public experience and included conducting hands-on workshops for visitors.
 
Huarache Fashion Show – produced a culminating runway event showcasing the footwear designs we created from the El Shop summer project and the Artist Residency during the ZERO1 Biennial. Footwear models included luminaries from the Latino arts community.
 
2009    
Feria del Mariachi, in collaboration with artist H. Dio Mendoza, commissioned by ZER01- creative place-making and interactive project involving music and art for the Mariachi Festival in downtown San Jose.
 I Dream of Home, SubZERO Festival San Jose, in collaboration with photographer Michelle Longosz. This was an interactive installation asking participants to share their thoughts about the housing situation in the Bay Area.
 
2007    
Mentor, The Abramovitz Scholarship Fund - Selected to work as a mentor to a talented high school art student for a period of one year. Palo Alto Art Center, Palo Alto, CA
 
1998
Grants Committee Member, Arts Council Silicon Valley. Met monthly to review the Arts Council’s granting policies and procedures and made recommendations based on annual applications to the Council’s grant program.

1997
Public Art Commission from the city of San Jose to produce a series of five oil on canvas mural panels entitled Vida en Los Dichos/Life in Proverbs for the main reading room of the Biblioteca Latinoamericana Branch Library.
 
1995    
The (Re)Generation Project, Galeria de La Raza, San Francisco, CA. Year-long professional development experience and training in curatorial practice and arts management under artist and then board president of Galeria de La Raza, Amalia Mesa-Bains.
 
AWARDS

2025 - Recipient, Eureka Fellowship Award, Fleishhacker Foundation, San Francisco

2022 - Lucas Artist Fellow, Artist-in-Residence, Montalvo Arts Center, Saratoga, CA

2022 - Nominee, SECA Art Award, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

2020 - Exhibition Award, 2020 Left Coast Annual, Juror Carin Adams, Sanchez Art Center

2019 - Nominee, Eureka Fellowship Award, Fleishhacker Foundation, San Francisco

2016 - Artist Laureate Award, SVCreates, San Jose, CA

2010 - Artist-in-Residence, ZERO1 Biennial, San Jose, CA
2004 - Scholarship, Chicana/Latina Foundation, San Francisco
2000 - Americans for the Arts, Public Art Network Year In Review, National Recognition to the Best Public Art Projects Annually, for La vida en los dichos/Life In Proverbs, Biblioteca Latinoamericana, San Jose Public Library
1998 - Recipient, Public Art Commission, City of San Jose, Biblioteca Latinoamericana, San Jose Public Library
1997 - Recipient, Outstanding Women of Silicon Valley

1996 - Nominee, SECA Art Award, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

1994 - Artist-in-Residence, Villa Montalvo Historic Estate for the Arts, Saratoga, CA
1994 - Mariachi Festival Poster Competition, Mexican Heritage Corporation
1987 - Susan Irwin Scholarship, University of California, Santa Cruz