Education
2022 Master of Arts (Candidate)
University of Wyoming , Laramie, WY
Concentrations: American Studies
2022 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Summa Cum Laude
The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
Concentrations: Painting and Photography
Minor: Arts Business and Leadership
2019 Associate of Arts
Central New Mexico Community College, Albuquerque, NM
Concentrations: Art Studio
Additional coursework
2014-2016 Painting
San Diego Art Academy, San Diego, CA
2000-2002 Business Graphics
Technical Vocational Institute, Albuquerque, NM
Professional Experience
2024-present Curatorial Assistant, University of Wyoming Art Museum
2023-present Graduate Assistant, University of Wyoming, American Studies Department
2022-2023 Creative Executive, Syndicate Media Management
2018-2022 Creative Director, Monstully LLC.
2021 Social Media Content Creator, Anderson Abruzzo International Balloon Museum
2012-2016 Graphic Designer, SOS Design and Print Studio
2004-2013 Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Instructor – International Professional Fighter, FIT NHB Fight Gym
2002-2006 Vice President, Rio Grande Herb Company
Awards
2024 Arts & Sciences Dean’s Graduate Scholar Award, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY
2024 UW Event Grant, Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, University of Wyoming
2024 UW Art Department Event Grant, University of Wyoming
2023 Project Paseo, Community Arts Grant, Taos, NM
2022 College of Fine Arts, Honors Thesis, Highest Honors Award, University of New Mexico
2022 Community Arts Grant, Bernalillo County District 3, Commissioner Adrianne Barboa
2022 Nusenda Community Sponsorship Grant, Albuquerque, NM
2022 Raza Excellence Award, El Centro de la Raza, University of New Mexico
2022 Jose C. Teran (NARET) Scholarship Award, University of New Mexico
2022 New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship Award, University of New Mexico
2022 McConnell Discretionary Endowment Scholarship Award, University of New Mexico
2022 Endowment Scholarship Award, University of New Mexico
2021 Inducted Member, National Society of Leadership and Success
2020-2022 College of Fine Arts Deans List, University of New Mexico
2018-2019 Deans List, Central New Mexico Community College
2006 145 lbs. SWKA Kickboxing Champion, South West Kickboxing Association
2005 145 lbs. FWMMA Champion, Fightworld Mixed Martial Arts, New Mexico
Volunteer
2024 Student Chair, Rocky Mountain chapter (RMASA), American Studies Association.
Curated Exhibitions
2024 Diversity Unveild: An American Mosaic, Cooper House Mansion, Laramie, WY
Curator: Gerald Lovato
Solo Exhibitions
2022 Burque Unite: UNM Honors Thesis Exhibition, Orpheum Community Hub, Albuquerque, NM
Curator: Gerald Lovato
Group Exhibitions
2024 Diversity Unveild: An American Mosaic, University of Wyoming, Cooper House Mansion, Laramie, WY
Curator: Gerald Lovato
Keynote: Jen Delos Reyes
Juror: Eric Christo Martinez
2024 Paño Connections: Corazon Knows No Bounds
National Hispanic Cultural Museum, Albuquerque, NM
Curator: Eric Christo Martinez, Jadira Gurale
2024 Neltje Soup, SOK Gallery, Laramie, WY
Curator: Bailey Russel, Art at the Neltje Center Indoor Studio
2023 Taos Unite, Millicent Rogers Museum, Taos, NM
Curator: Dr. Trisha Martinez, Dr. Michelle Lanteri
2022 Against the White Cube, John Sommers Gallery, Albuquerque, NM
Curator: Patrick Manning, UNM Senior Capstone
2022 7th Annual Albuquerque Celebrates Recovery, El Chante Art Gallery, Albuquerque, NM
Curator: Bernalillo County Behavioral Health
2022 Son de Allá y Son de Acá, Tortuga Gallery, Albuquerque, NM
Curators: Rigoberto Luna, Vicente Telles and Ricardo Islas
2020 Windows of Harvard: Art from our Community, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Presented by The Office for the Arts at Harvard and Harvard Common Spaces
Permanent Public Collections
Self Portrait/ Rebel Cowboy, University of Wyoming, American Studies, Laramie, WY
Bridge, Gerald Lovato, Chicano Park Museum Collection, San Diego, CA
Queso, Gerald Lovato, Chicano Park Museum Collection, San Diego, CA
Performances & Happenings
Fight for Change, Orpheum Community Hub. October 29, 2022
Don’t Shoot Part 3, Central New Mexico Community College, April 17, 2019
Presentations
2024 Solidarity Through Art, National Association of Chicana and Chicano Studies, San Francisco, CA
2024 Keynote: Sometimes You Have to Go First, Eastern New Mexico University, Portales, NM
2023 Keynote: Taos Unite, Millicent Rogers Museum, Taos, NM
2022 Community Facilitator, Burque Unite, Orpheum Community Hub, Albuquerque, NM
2022 Artist Talk, Re-entry Facilitator, Dismas House, Albuquerque, NM
2021 Guest Speaker, Guns Down, Stop the Violence, Civic Plaza, Albuquerque, NM
2008 Graduation Speaker, Camino Nuevo Youth Center, Albuquerque, NM
Media Coverage
2024 Maggie Mullen, “Student-led UW art exhibit aims to deepen diversity, equity, and inclusion conversation” WYO File, https://wyofile.com/student-led-uw-art-exhibit-aims-to-deepen-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-conversation/
2023 Tamra Testerman, “#TaosUnite at Millicent Rogers Museum”, https://www.taosnews.com/tempo/arts/taosunite-at-millicent-rogers-museum/article_b4007574-f4d2-11ed-b153-ef44206412f7.html
2023 Carol A. Clark, “UNM-Taos Chicana/o Studies Students Present #TaosUnite Exhibition & ‘Taos Unites Today!’ Day Of Programs At Millicent Rogers Museum, https://ladailypost.com/unm-taos-chicana-o-studies-students-present-taosunite-exhibition-taos-unites-today-day-of-programs-at-millicent-rogers-museum/
2022 King, Mary Beth. “CFA student uses art to heal trauma” UNM Undergraduate Research, Arts & Design Network, December 15, 2022. ‘CFA student uses art to heal trauma’, UNM Undergraduate Research, Arts & Design Network
2022 King, Mary Beth. “Fine Arts graduate finds healing power of art” UNM Newsroom, December 13, 2022. ‘Fine Arts graduate finds healing power of art’, UNM Newsroom
2022 Kahn, Hamilton. “Burque Unite’ shows creative path through city woes” KOAT Action News 7, October 29, 2022. ‘Burque Unite’ exhibit (koat.com)
2022 Willis, George. “Albuquerque artist: ‘Suicide, gun violence, and fentanyl is killing our people” New Mexico Sun, October 29, 2022. Albuquerque artist: ‘Suicide, gun violence, fentanyl is killing our people’ | New Mexico Sun
2022 King, Mary Beth. “Honors thesis helps artist, community heal from trauma” UNM Newsroom, October 26, 2022. Honors thesis helps artist, community heal from trauma – UNM Newsroom
2022 Costello, Brittany. “Local artist hopes to spark change with interactive art exhibition” KOB 4 NEWS, October 24, 2022 Local artist hopes to spark change with interactive art exhibition – KOB.com
2022 Ward, Josiah. “Fighter Turned Artist Promotes Community and Healing with New Exhibition” The Paper, October 19, 2022. Fighter Turned Artist Promotes Community and Healing With New Exhibition – The Paper. (abq.news)
2022 Frankl, Mika. “Gerald Lovato is Fighting for Burque” Caged Minds, October 6, 2022
Gerald Lovato is Fighting for Burque – (cagedminds.com)
2019 Rael, Ally, and Madison Spratto. “Don’t Shoot’ —Art provokes student reactions” New Mexican News Port, May 8, 2019. “Don’t Shoot” — Art provokes student reactions – New Mexico News Port
Artist Portfolio