Judithe Hernández
Born and raised in East Los Angeles, Judithe Hernández was part of the vanguard of artists who helped launch the Chicano Art and Los Angeles Mural Movement of the 1960’s and 70’s, and is regarded as one of the important visual artists of the period. She helped forge the organization of Chicano artists in California and was the only female member of the seminal and influential artist collective Los Four.
“It is safe to say that this grouping of artists, known collectively as Los Four, and ‘legitimized’ Chicano art in the Anglo American art world and inspired the younger Chicanada to forge ahead with a school of art that would come to be known as Chicano Art. Today, Frank Romero, Carlos Almaraz, Gilbert Lujan, Judithe Hernández, and John Valadez represent a group of Chicano artists that have obtained international respect and are admired for producing original and exceptional bodies of work throughout their artistic careers. Los Four opened the commercial door to all in the Chicano art world.” Reflection on the Chicano Art Movimiento: A Primer by Armando Vazquez
She has exhibited extensively in the United States, Europe, and Mexico, including the ground-breaking first exhibition of contemporary Chicano Art in Europe: Le Démon des Anges. Her public works include the Los Angeles Bicentennial Mural (1981). The only mural commissioned by the Los Angeles Bicentennial Committee to officially commemorate the 200th anniversary of the city’s founding in 1781, Recuredos de Ayer, Sueños de Mañana, overlooked the downtown area of Los Angeles for nearly 20 years from its site within the El Pueblo State Historical Park. In contrast to her mural work, her studio work has always been pastel on paper. The lush color and haunting imagery of the work prompted one art critic to compare it to two legendary artists, saying it was a unique and beautiful “blend of Rivera and Rousseau”.
She spent 30 years teaching, lecturing, and working in college administration at several major universities. Having retired from higher education in 2005, she maintains a busy studio schedule and an active exhibition schedule. Her work is currently part of the following exhibitions: National Mexican Museum of Art in Chicago, “Chupacabras! Artists Reinterpret the Myth” (Jan 25-July 20, 2008), “Reforming US: Immigration Through Art” exhibition (June 1-July 13, 2008) at the Crown Center Gallery, Loyola University, and the June 2008 Group Show (June 13-July 24, 2008) at the Ogilvie/Pertl Gallery, River East Art Center.
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