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 together, 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

 

November 1st 2024 - Mag Gallery - San Francisco, CA - "Alone Together, In a Crowd - A Solo Show by Joel Hernandez" Opening Reception 5-9 pm on Nov 1st, Running thru the end of December

 

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

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

 

Press

The New York Times Style Magazine - How Contemporary Artists Are Taking Papier-Mache Out of the Classroom

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




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