Fausto Fernandez

Born in El Paso, Texas, and raised in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico, Fausto Fernandez is a mixed media collage artist now based in Phoenix, Arizona. His diverse background includes time spent in Anthony, New Mexico, and Los Angeles, California.

Artistic Practice

Fernandez's work spans a range of media, including paintings, public art, and community engagement projects. He combines traditional painting techniques with photography and found objects, creating complex and layered compositions. His pieces are characterized by the interplay of identifiable subjects and abstract elements, serving as metaphors for human interaction and behavior. The themes in his art are deeply rooted in his upbringing and extend into explorations of community, culture, and societal dynamics. Fernandez frequently works in series, drawing inspiration from mathematics, technology, cultural preservation, and mythology.

Exhibitions

His art has been exhibited at prominent venues, including:

Gate Cultural Center, San Pedro, California

McNay Museum of Art, San Antonio

Akron Museum, Ohio

Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum, Arizona

Tempe Center for the Arts, Arizona

Smithsonian’s George Gustav Heye Center, New York

Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Canada

Museum Permanent Collections

His collages are part of the permanent collections at:

McNay Museum of Art, San Antonio

Tucson Museum of Art, Arizona

Phoenix Art Museum

Heard Museum, Phoenix

Stanlee and Gerald Rubin Center for the Visual Arts, University of Texas at El Paso

Sky Harbor Airport Museum, Phoenix

City of El Paso Museum and Cultural Affairs Department

Public Art

Fernandez has created several notable public art projects, including:

Scottsdale Waterfront, Arizona: Site-specific artwork commissioned by Scottsdale Public Art

Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport: 10,000-square-foot terrazzo floor design at the Sky Train Station, commissioned by The City of Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture

Angels Gate Cultural Center, San Pedro, California: Community art installation in collaboration with Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters and related trades

East Rancho Dominguez Park, East Compton, California: Permanent installation commissioned by The LA County Arts Commission

Helios Educational Foundation, Phoenix: Sculptural art installation

Alamar Park, Avondale, Arizona: Immersive public art sculpture

Canal Convergence, Scottsdale, Arizona: Augmented Reality public art project in 2022, commissioned by Scottsdale Public Art

City of Phoenix Office Of Arts And Culture Artist Support Team

Fernandez is also involved in the Artist Support Team project “Sombra” led by the City of Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture. Together with Maria Salenger, he works closely with selected artists to help them develop and fully implement their proposed public art ideas.

Residencies and Awards

Residencies: Art Farm Iowa (2023), Camino al Arte, San Miguel De Allende, Mexico (2023); Border Art Residency, La Union, New Mexico (2014); Martin and Lorraine Kaminsky Residency, Miami, Florida (2016)

Awards and Recognition

Juror’s Award for painting at "Visual Syntax," Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum; "Artist to Work" grant from The Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture (2023)

Advisory Role

Member of the Advisory Council, Scottsdale Museum Of Contemporary Art