We recently connected with Hugo Medina and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Hugo, thanks for joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

As our globalizing world has increased the need to improve public spaces and create a sense of place-based identity, researchers and urban planners have also become increasingly aware of the benefits of environmental aesthetics in urban public spaces (Alyari, 2018). Psychological connections are fostered through public art and placemaking enhancements which are essential for creating an authentic sense of community and a meaningful impression of identity and place. My designs draw inspiration from the arts, our history, the collective human experience, and our natural environment. Born in La Paz, Bolivia with an architect father, I immigrated to New York as a child. My great appreciation of the Southwest and a constant search for adventure brought me to Phoenix in 1998. I was awarded the first public art award by the Mayor of Phoenix (2012) resulting from years of demonstrated ability to develop and organize public art programs/events, and my ongoing commitment to community-based public art. I am recognized for my work in a wide range of artistic mediums, building on a 30-year career producing innovative and iconic art projects -creating a conduit not only for art and place-making but also for economic development and commercial growth.
Working in collaboration with communities, architects, and public administrators, I have technical and design experience leading large-scale public art projects connected with transportation infrastructure, such as the upcoming Valley Metros light rail expansion in Phoenix, where my station designs are scheduled to be installed during February 2024. Additional experience as a project manager, estimator, fabricator, and designer fortified my expertise in custom steel fabrication through working closely with artists, architects, designers, and fabricators to create unique public works of art.
My passion for creating original works of art in collaboration with the community is highlighted in the two recently completed murals at the new Soluna Apartments. The project was the first mural commissioned by the City of Phoenix. The project was part of a $300 million transformation of the Edison-Eastlake community. Gorman & Company partnered with the City of Phoenix Housing Department on this multi-phased project that will redefine this neighborhood for generations.
The world is becoming a mecca for murals and community projects where non-artists and artistic citizens have worked tirelessly to create a destination that highlights who they are. Public art tells the diverse multi-cultural story of not only present-day inhabitants but also the rich heritage that is a narrative in color. These stories also provide material for a vibrant visual art scene and assist artists in setting trends that are shaping the identity of any great city. Public art is a visual way of telling stories, a form of communication as old as humankind.
Being an avid reader, and history buff, when I am not creating, my head is constantly buried in a book. I share this with you because I can’t help to think of the importance of stories, local stories from the community. I believe reading brings stories, and history to life. Through the use of very dramatic colors, and vivid images the communities’ stories will come to life and tell the stories to all who view it. Taking you, the viewer into their next adventure. For the design of the projects I work on, I strive to engage with the community. Together we will develop a design that will make us all proud of what we created and shared with generations to come. My aim will be to engage critical awareness and foster mutual acceptance through educational elements that showcase cultural diversity and celebrate non-normative definitions of beauty. By celebrating diverse representations, this design will have a lasting impact -not just on the children in the community, but also on the community as a whole. A “Beloved community is formed not by the eradication of difference but by its affirmation, by each of us claiming the identities and cultural legacies that shape who we are and how we live in the world.” ~ Bell Hooks
Sincerely,
Hugo E Medina

“¿Rendirme yo? ¡Que se rinda su abuela, carajo!”
Colonel Eduardo Abaroa Hidalgo

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

“¿Rendirme yo? ¡Que se rinda su abuela, carajo!”
Colonel Eduardo Abaroa Hidalgo
Artists’ intrinsically political work carries a laudable responsibility for framing and shaping our shared historical narrative. My work is a reaction to current events, a social commentary that is integral to the inclusion of important underrepresented perspectives. A natural observer of the working-class and migrant communities around the world, I am inspired by their resilience and hardships. Connecting the commonalities of human struggle which mirror the experiences my family endured migrating to the United States from Bolivia. My work focuses on transcending borders by capturing humanity, rendering complex and sometimes conflicting emotions of individuals striving for better lives throughout the world. I explore universal issues of migration and immigration with an eye toward expressing fleeting feelings, moments, and states of being that endure the journey and remain in our psyche, molding our identity and impacting generations to come.
Painting portraits of individuals from my travels and day-to-day encounters, I intentionally connect with the “others” of society. Through visualized investigations, I strive to depict their inner struggles as a form of artistic anthropology. Exposing the socio-economic hierarchies of our society which are further exaggerated by access to naturalization statuses, my work serves as a creative cultural expression of identity and search for national belonging. Observing and recording the purposefully overlooked members of society has facilitated my growth not only as an artist but also as an immigrant striving to overcome my own history of trauma. I arrived in this country illegally at age eight and spent most of my youth, undocumented and in constant fear of deportation. In search of the American dream, my parents broke the law and our family remained in the shadows for over a decade. My educated parents worked several “under the table” cleaning and labor jobs until we were eventually granted citizenship through the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. This legislation changed the trajectory of my life, not only was I able to attend college and pursue my dreams, I became a productive member of society, no longer hiding my identity but celebrating it.
Community-based art is a passion I explore for artistic growth and will continue to do so once I am healed. My public work/murals is to ignite conversation around what is happening with our current world, and immigration policies. As our globalizing world is becoming more accessible to all, the arts, our history, and our collective search for justice are what drive my work. Celebrating my roots, identity, and the shared experience of immigrants, my work will attempt to bridge the imagination with experience and ignite dialogue around the complex understanding of who we are, a nation of immigrants.
My educational background, professional experiences, and drive inspire me to produce innovative multi-disciplinary paintings. As our globalizing world is becoming more accessible to all, the arts, our history, and connected human influence are what drive my work. Social connections are central to creating authentic paintings that become iconic, stimulating the imagination, and impacting generations.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Integrity, honesty, and hard work. Always do as you say, say as you do, and follow through. relationships are vital to success, maintain them, and do not burn any bridges.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I first started dating my partner, her belief in me helped me make some hard choices. To quit my “day job” and focus on my art. At that time I was working as a waiter/server in a restaurant. It was my main source of income. My work hours at the restaurant did not allow me to throw myself fully into my craft. Her belief in me, my talent, and my abilities gave me the confidence that allowed me to focus all my time on my work. In doing so my art became and still is my main source of income.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hugosart.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugomedina/
• Other: #hugosArt https://buffalolatinoartgallery.com/the-gallery-of-hugo-medina/

Image Credits
Kira Olsen Photography