¡VIVA! A Celebration of Latinx Cultures and Traditions

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San Francisco has a rich Latinx heritage that is highlighted in a diverse array of exciting programs for all ages, from Spanish/bilingual storytimes, to author talks, to art and cultural presentations. Come enjoy with us. ¡Bienvenidos! 

¡VIVA!: Celebrate the Ancestral Art of Calixto Robles

We are thrilled to showcase the work of Calixto Robles for this year’s ¡VIVA!: Latinx Heritage campaign. Born in Oaxaca, Mexico, Robles is a painter, printmaker and ceramic sculptor who lives and works in San Francisco’s Mission District. His artwork is inspired by the ancestral myths and symbols of the Indigenous traditions of Mesoamerica.

Robles is a member of the California Society of Printmakers and has taught at Mission Cultural Center since the 1990s. His work has been widely exhibited and included in important museum collections such as the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C.

A generous teacher, Robles has inspired many students in the art of silkscreen printmaking. Get inspired to attend one of his programs this fall.

Screen Printing and Collage – Sept. 14, 2 p.m., Eureka Valley Branch

Screen Printing with Calixto Robles – Sept. 15, 2 p.m., Portola Branch

Printmaking Workshop with Calixto Robles – Oct. 3, 5 p.m., Main Library, Latino/Hispanic Meeting Room

Bernal Community: Día de Los Muertos – Oct. 27, 3 p.m., Bernal Heights Branch

Calixto Robles Artist Statement

I am from Oaxaca, Mexico, and moved to San Francisco in 1983. I am a painter, printmaker and ceramic sculptor who is inspired by Meso-America and First Nation people’s culture as well as sacred imagery of ancient Eastern and Western cultures. I use natural and supernatural figures such as angels, eagles, jaguars, horses, hearts and moons.

I create work around issues that I am personally invested in my entire life: social justice and climate change. I make art to empower people to find strength to fight for justice. My work is positive and shows symbols of cultural history, survival, and strength. Select exhibits include the Legion of Honor in San Francisco, the de Young Museum in San Francisco, the Oakland Museum in Oakland and Museo de la Estampa in Mexico City. My work is in the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian.

If you are interested in a work or studio visit, call (415) 216-8915, email calixtorobles@hotmail,com, or find me on Instagram: @calixto.robles

Calixto Robles