Changarrito Residency: Alejandra

About the Artist

Alejandra Gonzalez Zertuche (b. 1997 in Coahuila, Mx.) immigrated to Texas and has since recited in central Texas, until 2022 when she relocated to the East Coast. Alejandra is a figurative painter who draws inspiration from her Mexican heritage and familial stories. Her work is part of the Texas State University permanent collection and was a part of the Student Juried Exhibition show where her work was selected best in show (2022). Her work has also been shown nationally in galleries. Alejandra received her BFA in Studio Art with a painting concentration from Texas State University (2022)

Artist Statement

I focus on representing the immigrant experience in the United States, through scenes of resilience and courage. My artwork is a constant archive that draws from personal stories. Much of my work is paintings that recall the journey and life after arriving in a new land. While many try to assimilate, others try to make their communities into tiny corners of the home they left behind by building businesses and marking a path for future generations. In my work, I use photographs and drawings as a source to create oil paintings on canvas that reveal both the banal and realistic settings that are experienced by the women and men in my community. I use space and scale to explore the moments that seem larger-than-life to involve the viewer in a place they may never find themselves in. These spaces evoke feelings of hopefulness, alienation, and in some a piece of comfort. My subjects are often candidly depicted and realistically rendered on a larger scale that creates an intimacy with the viewer. In my practice, I often incorporate brightly colored backgrounds and thin washes of paint. I enjoy leaving marks that suggest the process and history of the painting. I present my work as a third culture that is still being shaped and recognized. I intend for people to see themselves represented and for others to see a different perspective of the world we share. Through my work, I create a conscious remark and a report of my visual testimony about transformation, hope, and survival in the United States.

Changarrito Cart: April 8 & 15-16

Artists have the opportunity to sell their art on the Changarrito cart in front of the Museum (or an offsite location, as representative for the Museum during various Austin festivals). Changarreando expands the reach of the artist by presenting their gallery online, while allowing the option to sell merch over Instagram and receive 100% of the sale.

Alejandra Gonzalez Zertuche featured their artwork on the Changarrito cart outside the Museum’s entrance on April 8 and April 15-16, 2023.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for updates on original work available for purchase and behind the scenes of the artist’s work, space, and creative process.