All posts by Monica Veleta

Mac

Biography

Mac was born in Los Angeles, California in 1980, the son of an engineer and an artist, Mac has studied and made art, independently, since his childhood. Inspired at an early age by classical European painters such as: Vermeer, the Art Nouveau and the Sibilists Kilmt and Mucha, all this has been mixed with a more contemporary influence of graffiti, photorealism and Chicano and Mexican culture as he grew up. He has been in charge of painting murals in many places in the United States, but also in Mexico, Denmark, Sweden, Canada, South Korea, Italy, Belgium, Puerto Rico, Spain, Singapore, Germany, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Vietnam and Cuba.

Murals

“Animo sin Fronteras”  Bi-National Mural Installation for  El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico December 2014 Miles MacGregor “El Mac” and  David “Graves” Herrera Assistant Artist / Project Curator. The Mission of the Bi-National Mural Project is to create inspiration and help promote, cultivate and regenerate the beauty of our border area with two corresponding large scale murals in both of our sister cities, Ciudad Juarez, Mx. and El Paso, TX.

The Mural in El Paso,“Animo sin Fronteras”  was based on El Mac  photos of a man named Melchor, whose son was disappeared by corrupt police.  Melchor  represent countless others who’ve lost and suffered in recent years. 

In 2012 El Mac photographed participants in the Caravan for Peace with Justice and Dignity (Caravana por la Paz con Justicia y Dignidad) when it passed through El Paso. The caravan was made up of people who lost family members to the violence, corruption and injustice that has plagued Mexico for the last near-decade.

Mural “Juarense y poderosa “

“Juarense y Poderosa”, the mural that Miles MacGregor painted in Ciudad Juárez, was based on photos he took of a young woman from there named Diana who lost her mother to kidnapping. 

“I felt a responsibility to paint these murals, to create images of inspiration and empowerment. In my own small way, with my own voice and platform, I hope to honor those that have suffered the effects of this ongoing injustice.” 

-El Mac

Mac was born in Los Angeles, California in 1980, the son of an engineer and an artist, Mac has studied and made art, independently, since his childhood. Inspired at an early age by classical European painters such as: Vermeer, the Art Nouveau and the Sibilists Kilmt and Mucha, all this has been mixed with a more contemporary influence of graffiti, photorealism and Chicano and Mexican culture as he grew up. . He has been in charge of painting murals in many places in the United States, but also in Mexico, Denmark, Sweden, Canada, South Korea, Italy, Belgium, Puerto Rico, Spain, Singapore, Germany, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Vietnam and Cuba

The Murals are a celebration of the Border culture, highlighting the will, the perseverance and the hope of the people. Furthermore promoting the Border complex as a national level art hub that would attract tourism and change the negative perception through art.  

Edgar I. Melendez Chávez

Education

Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez

Biography

Edgar Ivan Melendez Chávez, also known as ShackMexicano, born in Cd. Juárez, the oldest of four brothers, is creative by conviction and training, from an early age he discovered his passion and talent in the plastic arts.

He became self-taught, experimenting and dabbling in different techniques such as; urban art, acrylic and oil on canvas, pencil drawing and watercolor.

In 2009 he entered the Autonomous University of Cd. Juárez, training within the creative field and is impacted by the current of urban art (street art) in growing development in his city, he decides to put on hold the Bachelor of Industrial Design. to devote himself fully to his greatest passion; Muralism, urban art, is this current of art that allows him to express his emotions and ideals, although some of the first murals that were captured in the streets of Cd Juárez no longer exist, he is still active every day painting more either commercially or on public roads to continue sharing and communicating through this discipline.

Babak Tavakoli

Biography

Babak Tavakoli, an El Paso-based artist, specializes in detail-oriented spray paint murals. The subject matter of his work regularly encompasses a borderland culture theme. With abstract geometric forms, patterns, and vivid color throughout each piece created. Babak has been anonymously honing his spray paint medium for over a decade. Recently emerging from the “underground” as a known muralist in 2019. Since then, he has painted murals for Galleria Lincoln, Chalk the Block, Neon Desert, as well as public schools and private businesses. The murals Babak has painted and will continue to paint are done with love for his community. He would be honored to participate in this border region mural project.

Dani F. / VivaVoodeux

Biography

Dani F., known as VivaVoodeux, an El Paso local who explores many mediums while specializing in spraypaint art and murals. With work featured both city and country- wide since 2006, she aims to continuously evolve a personal style inspired by street culture, nature, and character design.” Participating in a project such as this one would be giving me the opportunity, as an artist, to create something with meaning and purpose for my community.