Andy Villarreal

My background as a North American, a Texan and a Hispanic male forms my aesthetics. Personal experiences and trips to the East and West coasts, the Southwest, Mexico, Yucatan, and Europe enrich the themes in my work. The Mexican culture is a major source of inspiration to me and has become more prominent in my work of the past fifteen years. The intensity of my work derives from my pride and feelings towards my culture. Indigenous cultures are also a driving force in my work. The Indigenous peoples of varying times and places interact in my work. My work crosses cultures and portrays the human condition, the struggles, the harmony, the social injustice, and the celebration of life. Ongoing themes in my work combine history, mythology, and religion, past and present, real and contrived. The details of life, sex, violence, and humor join to enrich scenes of both normal and unusual activities. My work emphasizes these intense social and cultural contents as well as formal contemporary aesthetic elements. My work includes various architectures of signs and symbols from ancient civilizations. Viewers are invited to share my cultural experiences and draw their own interpretations.

B.A., Art, Corpus Christi State University, 1978 

M.F.A., Arizona State University, 1983

2013-Present: Art Instructor, Inspire Community Fine Art Center, San Antonio, TX

2001-Present: Art Instructor, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TX

2001-2011: Art Instructor, St. Phillip's College, San Antonio, TX

2000-2012: Art Instructor, Palo Alto College, San Antonio, TX

1993-2015: Art Instructor, San Antonio College, San Antonio, TX

Permanent Collection

Museo Casa Mata, Matamoros. Tamaulipas, Mexico

Arts and Science Museum, Dr. Chadwick Smith, Los Angeles, California

University of Texas at San Antonio Art Collection, San Antonio, Texas

Apple Computer Corporation, Austin, Texas

The Alamo, San Antonio, Texas

Arizona State University Museum, Tempe, Arizona

And more

Solo and Group Exhibitions

2026: Galactic Warriors, University of the Incarnate Word

2024: The Other Side of the Mirror, Queretaro Museum of Art, Queretaro, Mexico

2021: Warriors and Rituals of Mesoamerica, Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts

2017: Six Texas Artists, Eight Summer Days, One Cool Museum, McNay Museum, San Antonio, TX

And more 

Publications

Inaugura Exposition Sobre La Cultura Maya, Berenice Salcedo Expreso Museo Casamata Hellou, Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, 2017

Cross Culturalist, The Monitor: Valley Life, 2015

Hispanic Magazine, 1994

Trio Creates Visionary Art, San Antonio Express News, 1992

And more

2018: 1st Place Award- Pantone 2018 Ultra Violet The Art Center of Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas

2016: 2nd Place Award for Painting, “Images 2016”

3rd Place Award for Drawing, “Images 2016” Kerrville Arts and Cultural Center, Kerrville, Texas

Honorable Mention, 44th International Art Show, Brownsville Museum of Fine Art, Brownsville, Texas

“Featured Artist”, University of Texas at San Antonio Dia de los Muertos Celebration UTSA Gallery 23, San Antonio, Texas

2011: Maria and Hugh Halff Donor Award, “81st Annual San Antonio Art League Exhibition”
San Antonio, Texas

1997: 1st Place Award, Corpus Christi Art Foundation Exhibit The Art Museum of South Texas: Corpus Christi, Texas

1984: David E. Pearce Purchase Award, 54th Annual San Antonio Art League Exhibition, Koehler Cultural Center: San Antonio, Texas

1979: Second Place Award, Tri-Group Show, Del Mar College: Corpus Christi, Texas

1978: Best of Show Award, Tri-Group Show, Del Mar College: Corpus Christi, Texas

Art Foundation Award, Art Foundation Show, The Art Museum of South Texas: Corpus Christi, Texas

Best in Category (Drawing), Seventh Annual Dimension Show, Art Community Center: Corpus Christi, Texas