Phone: (310) 455-4462
Fax: (310) 455-1472
E-Mail: vallejo@earthlink.net

Linda Vallejo, born in Los Angeles in 1951, is a practicing professional artist creating images, which describe the world from her indigenous training and understanding. Awards include Quien es Quien in U.S. Commerce, National Award, 1994; National Association Chicano Studies, Distinguished Recognition, 1993; and Latinas Making History Award, Comision Feminil de Los Angeles, 1991. Selected Exhibitions include ”Dreams and Reality,” University of Judaism, Marjorie and Herman Platt Gallery; ‘Los Cielos’ One Woman Show, SPARC, Los Angeles, 2000; AZTLANNET.COM, Website Solo-Exhibition, 1998; Armand Hammer Museum, Laguna Art Museum, Art Museum of South Texas, Anchorage Museum of History and Art, The Bronx Museum, Museum of Modem Art New York, The San Antonio Museum, Mexico City Modem Art Museum, and Galeria Las Americas; and most recently The Santa Monica Museum “East of the River” 2000, and The Carnegie Museum, Oxnard CA., which acquired four sculptures for its permanent collection. Major Publications and Media include Inland Empire Daily Calendar, February 2001, Los Angeles Times Artist Review, October 2000, Art Business News, Southwest Art, Saludos Hispanos, Hispanic Business Magazine, "Strong Hearts, Inspired Minds," Rowanbeny Books, Los Angeles Times, Latin Style Magazine, PBS "The History of the Mexican American Civil Right Movement," 1996. Guest Lectureships and Teaching Positions include Los Angeles County Museum of Art (1992-1993-1994), LA; Museum of Contemporary Art (1991-1992-1993), Fresno Metropolitan Art Museum; Cal State University Long Beach Art Department; University of California, Irvine, Art Department, and Santa Monica City College. Indigenous Spiritual Community Linda Vallejo was born in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, California, in 1951. She traveled and studied throughout the United States, Europe and Mexico. She received a Master of Fine Arts Degree from Cal State University, Long Beach, in 1978. In the late 1970s and early 1980s she studied Maya and Azteca dance with the Flores de Aztlan Troupe. During these formative years, Las Flores de Aztlan presented teachings and workshops throughout the State of California at cultural centers, universities, and in traditional Native American and Chicano ceremonies. These ceremonies included Fiesta de Maiz and Dia de Los Muertos in Los Angeles, Fiesta de Colores in Sacramento, and Chicano Park Day in San Diego. Over the past twenty years, she has participated in and supported traditional ceremony in South Dakota, California and Arizona. She served as a community volunteer for the Native American Religious Society, California Rehabilitation Center, Norco for the past fifteen years. Artist Statement The "Los Cielos" 1996-2000 Series seeks to integrate my understanding and experience of ceremony, personal love of nature, and healing through nature. "Los Cielos" depict celestial figures floating in surrealistic skyscapes. Often, in sharing these paintings with others, I am told deeply personal stories of personal catharsis and healing. One of my goals as a painter has been to touch collective unconscious and I believe that "Los Cielos" has been successful in reaching a place deep within the viewer. It is my hope that these works bring peace, healing and balance to the viewer.” To date, I have completed over fifty "Los Cielos" paintings in acrylic and oil on canvas and masonite. Each painting contains a minimum of 100 layers of paint, taking over one year to complete. I have always seen my environment from a ‘natural’, rather than an ‘urban’ viewpoint. My good teacher, Twyla Nische, a Seneca Oneida elder, taught me that we can know and understand our ‘natural selves through nature,’ and have held this truth as a guiding point in my life and creativity. I search for this natural environment, even while surrounded by the ever-present and immense urban sprawl. This natural environment is an exact mirror of our bodies, mind, spirit and creativity. The earth is laden with the image of the human body and all of its possibilities. Within trees one can see the image of the female vulva and male organ; limbs, torso, head, mind and spirit. The roots are the major organs; the truck, branches and leaves become the body; and the mind and spirit are seen and understood in the wind curling through its leaves. The place in which the earth meets the sky is a parable of the human condition. The horizon line reflects the physical body with its curving, undulating lines and hardened forms; and the sky above, with wind, sun, storms and quiet speaks of the mind, spirit and creativity, and all of their unpredictability and volatility. I believe that this natural environment is a fundamental source of healing and essential for any individual to know and understand who they are and what they are meant to create in this life. Standing alone in nature; hours on end, drinking in the wind, earth, and sky I have known this healing from the natural environment. This remains my perception of my ‘environment’, a wondrous place of knowing and renewal.

All images, unless otherwise noted, belong to and are the property of the individual artist and/or art gallery. All rights reserved. No part of an image, the work, or digital representation can be used without written permission.