Artwork: Close up from Paul Valadez Movie Series.

Support our Changarrito Artist of the month, Paul Valadez, as we adapt the program to a new and exciting internet feature: “Changarreando” In the spirit of Changarrito, the pop-up mobile art gallery where artists can sell their work to the public, Changarreando with Paul Valadez allows the artist to bring his work to you. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for updates on original work available for purchase as well as behind the scenes of the artist’s work, space, and creative process.

About the Artist

Paul Valadez grew up in Stockton, CA and attended San Joaquin Delta College prior to attending the San Francisco Art Institute where he earned his BFA in Interdisciplinary Art in 1997. Valadez earned his MFA in Studio Art from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill where he was awarded a Weiss Urban Livability Fellowship. Paul currently resides in Deep South Texas where he works as a full-time lecturer in the Art Department at the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, formerly the University of Texas-Pan American, on the US/Mexico Border.

He dreams of dining out every night but can’t right now!

Artist Statement

“Generally, my artwork has to do with my childhood and language. I grew up in a bi cultural family, Anglo/white on my mother’s side and Mexican on my father’s side and I felt that I never fit in. I was either Mexican or white depending on what side of my family I was spending time with. Language to me is the fact that, Spanish is the language of secrets; Spanish was spoken in front of me to keep me from knowing something. Spanish was never spoken in my home and when I was a child English was rarely spoken with my father’s family.”

Presenting Changarreando

Changarrito is an art vending cart, conceptualized by artist Maximo Gonzalez as an alternative to the official gallery selection presented by the Mexican cultural authorities. The word "changarreando", is a verb form that comes from the noun "changarro,” slang originating in Mexico City for “a small retail store.” The suffix “-ando” adds significant meaning to the word but can be summarized here as indicating the act or action of hanging out at a "changarro” with the featured artist.

Faithful to their original, informal spirit, Changarritos exist throughout the world, evolving as forums for the sale of original artwork to the general public, presentation of public programs, special curatorial projects, individual and collective exhibitions. Changarreando takes this a step further to connect with people through social media, generate interaction with art, and embrace the digital era with our existing programs!

Changarrito Residency

True to the Mexic-Arte Museum’s mission, the Changarrito and Changarreando are dedicated to the presentation and promotion of contemporary Latinx and Latin American art. Normally, artists have the opportunity to sell their art on the Changarrito cart in front of the Museum (or an offsite location, as representative for the Museum during various Austin festivals). Changarreando expands the reach of the artist by presenting their gallery online, while allowing the option to sell merch over Instagram and receive 100% of the sale. For each Changarrito/Changarreando artist, the Museum acquires a work of art for its permanent collection.