Arlette Lucero is an American visual artist, educator, and illustrator.[1] [2] [3]
In 2012, she was inducted as a Corn Mother for her community involvement and support.[4]
Rooting from the mid-twentieth century and based in Denver, Colorado, Arlette Lucero is co-founder of the Chicano Humanities and Arts Council (CHAC), an art organization.[3] [2] [5] [6] She has been self-employed since 1976.[7] Lucero expresses her Chicana heritage through her artwork, including photography, illustration, and computer art.[8] She also participated in Journey Through Our Heritage (JTOH), Arts Street, Voz y Corazón, KidzArt, and the Museo de las Americas. Lucero is also an educator, teaching murals, traditional art, and painting.[9]
She earned her bachelor's degree in fine arts from Colorado State University and pursued graphic arts at the Community College of Denver.[10]
The art piece Chicana portrays a woman and a tree. Many patterns and designs are a combination of Spanish-style patterns and American symbols. This includes the colors of the American flag and the Mexican flag, as well as words such as "Freedom" and "Chicano". The woman in the art piece is shown to be carrying a flaming heart that is surrounded by barbed wire and a cross. The mix of hummingbirds and bald eagles in the art supposedly demonstrates Chicano, an American first with cultures of Mexican descent.[11]
In 2019, Lucero began a trio of expansive murals during her tenure as the Artist in Residence. Among these is Juanita Dominguez, a tribute created with guidance from the El Movimiento Advisory Committee. In the center of the piece is the phrase "Yo Soy Chicano. Tengo Color..." surrounds the featured Chicana, translating to "I am Chicano. I have Color...".[12] [10]
The artwork Dia de Los Muertos, with Chicanx cultural traditions, features a woman dressed up as a living "calavera", or sugar skull, which is often placed on the "Ofrenda," the heart of the celebration. The Ofrenda is intended to be interpreted as a symbolic bridge between the living and the dead.[13]