My first trip out of my home town was to Mexico City when I was five years old, there are a few things that I remember very clearly: our visit to Teotihuacan; the two pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, with stone carvings of snakes and humans all over the place, people praying, people picnicking, people selling all kinds of things. I remember the Cathedral and the Alameda Central while driving in my grandpa’s old truck listening to Trio Ballads. Once when we were walking in downtown Mexico City I felt a mysterious presence in the air, I remember being so excited because my mom was always telling me tales about almost everything, I think that stimulated my imagination and all those things made me fall in love with my culture and the ancient Mexico.
“[Queer health means] Being comfortable in your own skin and take care of your body, the flesh and bond temple of your soul. Respect yourself and others. Know your status.”
Armando Sebastian
Since then I have felt a strong connection with my people, and I draw and paint using bright colors inspired by Mexican folk art, and the human body. Rooted in autobiographical details from my childhood and adolescence. I like to tell stories through my work and explore questions of identity and gender, you’ll find yourself into the atmosphere of human pain and vulnerability reminiscent of the ex-voto paintings. My work also includes paintings with reference to poets, music icons and symbols amid vibrant landscapes. Perhaps my Art can most closely identify with the genre of magical realism.
Artist Biography
Armando Sebastian (He/They) was born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico. At an early age he became interested in theater, fashion and designed costumes for plays. Later he discovered his need to express himself and his passion for Art which led him to paint. It was during this period that he realized his talent was innate. In 2002, Sebastian moved to the city of Dallas, Texas. Here is where he formally decided to start his career as an Artist. Sebastian’s work has been part of exhibitions throughout the years. He has been featured in the Dallas Morning News and Studio Visit Magazine among others publications. In 2016, his work was recognized with the “Artistic Merit Award”, granted by the ArtSpace111 Gallery in its Fourth Annual Regional Juried edition in Fort Worth, Texas. In the summer of 2018 he was part of the statewide traveling show, MariconX, his work also traveled to Los Angeles, California as well as New York City. In February 2020, he presented his fourth solo exhibition titled The Dreamer / Parallel Universe at the Latino Cultural Center.
THIRD SPACE DFW 