Arte por Vida

Stories about New Mexican Hispana/o people have been told from a colonial perspective for centuries. The University of New Mexico’s Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies (CCS) is committed to creating opportunities for Nuevo Mexicano artists to share their stories with communities and students across the greater Southwest to help evolve the narratives about our people.

In this series, we strive to preserve New Mexican arts as a vital part of human history and to serve as a reflection of society’s norms and beliefs. The value of these art forms lies in their aesthetic appeal and ability to educate, inform, and inspire.

Moreover, these forms of cultural production entail the need for research, investigation, and knowledge dissemination. By preserving and sharing New Mexican art forms, future generations can better understand the historical context of the artwork and learn about their cultural heritage, while developing a sense of pride and connection to their history.

UNM’s “NM Arte Por Vida Series” can also evoke emotions through the beauty, creativity, and innovation of the artwork, thus preserving art for future generations to ensure that our cultural heritage is passed on to posterity.