User:Chicanaart07/Denise Silva

Wikipedia Article: Denise Silva

Denise Silva (1988) is a femme Chicana multimedia artist and curator known for her use of beautiful soft colors and layers. Her most known work is a series of murals she did titled Grandmothers that are displayed around various public library walls in Riverside and perfectly encapsulated the type of art she does and the meanings behind them. She uses Indigenous Futurism to honor and remember our Indigenous ancestors who reflect our skin color and our divine femininity, the effects of colonialism, and the hopes for the future of la gente. Her work centers on Indiginism and femininity and takes its audience on a journey back home to its Indigenous roots. She also creates representation through her art and from an Indigenous and Chicana perspective.

Biography, Early Life, and Education

Denise Silva was born in East Los Angeles but grew up in Riverside, California. She went to school at CSU: Los Angeles where she studied design and illustration. Once she graduated, she moved back to Riverside where she currently resides and creates art from her studio. She is also very involved in the Riverside art community and frequently takes part in local art fairs, shows, and other events. She is also a proud mother to six children.

Art and Exhibitions

Grandmothers; Riverside
Divine Mother; Black Lives Matter: Voices of Protest, Activism & Art Exhibit
The Journey; Indigenous Futurism Exhibition @ the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture
The Feminine Urge at Art Walk in Riverside
Mujeres Sabias Group Art Show

Features

CURIOUS Magazine- Empathy+Environmental Justice (Fall 2022)
Ofrenda Magazine- Issue 9/Cycles Hija Ofrenda Magazine - Hija • Words by Amanda Ellis • Art by Denise Silva

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mw1hj_L0QUg; Denise Silva, Artist, Storyteller, Indigenous Femme Youtube video/interview
Black Lives Matter: Voices of Protest, Activism & Art (rccd.edu)

References

Staff, Gazette. “Riverside Artist Denise Silva Unveils Bold ‘grandmothers’ Mural at Five Locations across the City.” The Raincross Gazette, The Raincross Gazette, 28 Apr. 2023, www.raincrossgazette.com/denise-silva-grandmothers/.
“Indigenous Futurism Exhibition @the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture:” Riverside Art Museum, 31 Oct. 2023, https://riversideartmuseum.org/exhibits/indigenous-futurism/