About Me
I had to wear several masks growing up, whether it was trying to act more Mexican or American, or even hiding the fact that i was gay. Those tactics at first were meant to help me disappear into the crowd, but they also left me with the desire to explore and belong.
My work is meant to address those ideas around tribalism, pageantry and everyday struggles that connect us all. Whether it's an expression of sadness or happiness I want to give people the possibility to transport themselves into those feelings and embrace them. The masks are a way of unburdening myself as if im taking it off my own body. It's a process of letting go and trying to understand this moment in time through a tangible object. I hope with my work people feel like there's a community out there for them. We may not be togeather, but if we were in the same village, we would be dancing around the same fire.
Education
2008 - Bachelors in Fine Arts - Indiana University - Bloomington, Indiana
Upcoming Exhibitions
March 2024 - Museo De Las Americas - Denver CO - "Espiritu Hermosx / Beautiful Spirit" -Opening March 28 (Thursday) at 06:30 PM
April 2024 - MACLA - San Jose CA - MACLA’s 2024 Latinx Art Now - Exhibition opening April 5, 2024 - Auction: May 18, 2024
Past Exhibitions
December 2016 - Tomo Mags Gallery - Houston, TX - "Mercado" Joel Hernandez
March 2021 - La Luz De Jesus Gallery - Los Angeles, CA - Onward 2.0 Portraiture & Figuration Biennial
June 2021 - Superchief Gallery - New York, NY -Superchief Gallery 9 Year Anniversary Group Show
September 2021 - National Museum of Mexican Art - Chicago, IL - Dia de Muertos - A Time to Grieve & Remember
December 2021 - La Luz De Jesus Gallery - Los Angeles, CA - Grand Saloon - An Epic Group Exhibition
April 2022 - Art Market San Francisco - Showing with La Luz De Jusus - San Francisco, CA
June 2022 - Comercio Popular - Chicago, IL
August 2022 - An.a.log Gallery - San Francisco, CA
April 2023 - Latinx Art Now MACLA Exhibition and Auction - San Jose, CA
September 2023 - Queer-Ennial : A Story of Armor - MACLA - San Jose
September 2023 - Here Because of You - Solo Show - La Luz De Jesus - Los Angeles
Press
Le Mile Magazine Pop Issue #31 - Mask for Mask: Unveiling Joel Hernandez by Malcolm Thomas
California Home And Design - Winter Cover Story
Studio Ahead - Artist Spotlight - Joel Hernandez
Studio Confessions Podcast - The Mask Episode
