Patricia Valdez

Place: Los Angeles

Born: 1951

Biography:

Patricia Valdez, also known as Patssi Valdez, is an American Chicana artist born in 1951 in Los Angeles, California. She is a founding member of the art collective Asco, which was active from 1972 to 1987. Valdez's work represents some of the finest Chicana avant-garde expressionism, including painting, sculpture, and fashion design.

Early Life and Education

Valdez grew up in East Los Angeles and attended Garfield High School, graduating in 1970. She received a BFA degree in 1985 from Otis Art Institute (now Otis College of Art and Design). Valdez's early life was marked by racism, police brutality, and poor schools, which had a significant impact on her artistic perspective.

Career and Work

Valdez started working with Asco right out of high school. She was very involved with street performance art and "cinematic Goth film stills" during the 1970s and 1980s. Valdez relates that during her time in Asco, she had "grand ideas about being a great painter," but she felt lacked the skills she needed to be a successful painter. Instead of painting, she focused on performance art, installations, and photography. Valdez's work with Asco took place in areas where there had recently been gang conflict or fatal shootings of individuals by the police. She and the other founders of Asco had seen that a disproportionate number of Mexican-Americans were singled out for the Vietnam draft, which had a profound impact on their artistic perspective. Patricia Valdez is known for her vibrant paintings, installations, and early performance work with the avant-garde art group Asco. Her work is characterized by saturated colors in topsy-turvy, magical rooms where heavy theatrical curtains frame a wild and energetic scene.

Awards and Collections

Valdez's work has been exhibited at various museums, including the Museo Eduardo Carrillo in Santa Cruz, United States. Her paintings are part of the collection at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Valdez has also been part of the Pacific Standard Time exhibition, which showcased her work alongside other notable artists.

• Important works by Valdez include her painting Patssi, created in 2000, which is a remarkable watercolor piece that captures the essence of everyday life.
• Valdez's work has been influenced by her experiences as a Chicana artist, and she has been recognized for her contributions to the avant-garde expressionism movement.
• Her work can be found in various collections, including the Imperial College Healthcare Charity Art Collection.

Valdez's work continues to be celebrated for its unique blend of vibrant colors and emotive subject matter. As a founding member of Asco, she has played a significant role in shaping the Chicana avant-garde expressionism movement. Her contributions to the art world are a testament to her talent and dedication as an artist. https://Wikioo.org/@/Patricia-Valdez https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patssi_Valdez https://Wikioo.org/Art.nsf/O/A@D3CPUX https://Wikioo.org/Art.nsf/O/A@D3B6ER