Art
#piñatas #sculpture
Mexican Paintings, Lowriders, and Nachos Transformed into Piñata-Inspired Sculptures by Justin Favela
“Fridalandia” (2017), paper, glue and found objects, installation at the Denver Art Museum, photo by Mikayla Whitmore
Justin Favela creates colorful artworks that center around his identity as a queer Latinx artist living in the Southwestern United States. The artist’s piñata-inspired pieces reference his Mexican and Guatemalan heritage and explore elements associated with his family, pop culture, food dishes, and the art world. Each life-size installation or colorful nature-based “painting” is constructed by layering multi-colored cut paper or using the papier-mâché technique seen on the popular party object.
“I have been making a lot of work using the piñata as a medium because I see it as the perfect symbol that stands for my identity and by using it, I am reclaiming the piñata and the culture it represents,” Favela tells Colossal.
One of his large-scale lowrider piñatas was recently included in the Peterson Automotive Museum‘s exhibition The High Art of Riding Low: Ranflas, Corazón e Inspiración. You can see more of the artist’s work on Instagram.
“Popocatepetl e Iztaccihuatl vistos desde Atlixco, after Jose Maria Velasco” (2016), paper and glue, 64 x 82 inches, photo by Mikayla Whitmore
“Gypsy Rose Piñata” (2017), found objects, cardboard, styrofoam, paper and glue, 5 x 19.5 x 6.5 feet, photo courtesy of Petersen Automotive Museum
“Valle de México desde el Cerro de Santa Isabel, after Jose Maria Velasco” (2016), paper and glue on board, 64 x 86 inches, photo by Mikayla Whitmore
“Ahuehuete de la Noche Triste, after José María Velasco,” 24 x 15.75 inches, photo by Mikayla Whitmore
“Floor Nachos” (2017), cardboard, paper, glue and found object, size varies, photo by Simon Mills, The MAC Belfast
“Doritos, Nacho Cheese” (2015), cardboard, paper and glue, 36 x 36, photo by Mikayla Whitmore
“Piñata Motel” (2016), paper and glue on existing motel, photo by Krystal Ramirez
“Lowrider Piñata” (2014), cardboard, paper and glue, 5 x 19.5 x 6.5 feet, photo by Mikayla Whitmore
#piñatas #sculpture
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