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BIO

I was born in Colima, Mexico in 1988, into a family of seven. In 2006, I moved to the United States and obtained a Green Card and General Education Diploma (GED) in 2009. I currently reside in Los Angeles, CA.

I worked various jobs, including as a street vendor and an Uber driver, to afford my education. During my time as a street vendor, I came face-to-face with the harsh reality of this hard and often dangerous occupation. This experience inspired the direction of my artwork to focus on street vendors, immigrants, and the unseen, hardworking, and often forgotten people who are part of Los Angeles the multicultural city that we all enjoy.

Various personal experiences also prompted the topic of my dissertation thesis – spotlighting the stories of undocumented immigrants in the U.S.

I hold a MA with an emphasis on Painting and Drawing from California State University, Northridge.

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Artist's Statement 

 

I am Hedy Torres, an artist dedicated to shedding light on the experiences of immigrants and street vendors in the United States. Through my artistic practice, I endeavor to challenge prevailing prejudices, labels, and stereotypes that have historically marginalized these individuals, instead celebrating their unique and invaluable contributions to society, economy, and culture.

 

My current artistic practice is a tribute to the lives of street vendors, manifested through oil portraits and depictions of hands on canvas, steel cooking tools, paper, and other mediums. The choice to paint either portraits or hands in action allows me to capture a unique moment in the lives of vendors – one that often goes unnoticed by those being served. For the backgrounds of the portraits, I employ a variety of tools, including stencils, markers, and carefully affixed signs, crafting a visual journal of personal stories, experiences, and memories. In pieces featuring objects like tortilla makers or steel trays, the surface serves as an homage to the moment captured on it.

 

Through my artistic expression, I aim to contribute to a broader understanding and appreciation of the diverse stories and contributions of immigrants and street vendors, fostering a connection between the viewer and the subjects portrayed in my work.

CVV

EDUCATION

2018                            Master of Arts, Painting, California State University, Northridge. Northridge, CA

 

2016                            Bachelor of Arts, Painting and Drawing, California State University, Northridge. Northridge, CA

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

 

2018 – Present         Senior Housing Coordinator, Brilliant Corners, Los Angeles, CA

 

2019 – 2022              Art Instructor, Tzedek America, Los Angeles, CA

 

SOLO EXHIBTIONS

 

2019                            Invisible Hands: Eleven Million. Buena Park’s Fine Arts, Buena Park, CA

 

2018                            Invisible Hands: Eleven Million. TIOH Arts & Culture, Los Angeles, CA

 

2017                            Eleven Million.  Sponsored by CSUN Galleries, Matador Credit Union, Art council. CSUN West Gallery, Northridge, CA

 

DUO EXHIBITION

 

2022                            Formas De Familia: Daniela Garcia, Hedy Torres, Artbug Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

 

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

 

2023                            35 x 35 Bicentennial. Departamento de Asuntos Culturales, Los A        ngeles, CA

 

2022                            El Futuro es Queer Mercado. PRPGMX, Mexico City

           

2022                            All Media 2022. Irvine Fine Art Center, Irvine, CA

 

2022                            Como Frida. Tonalli Studio, East Los Angeles, CA

 

2022                            Begin/ Again. Open Mind Art, Santa Monica, CA

 

2022                            Divina Madre. Tonalli Studio, East Los Angeles, CA

 

2022                            Come Together. Open Gallery, Long Beach, CA

 

2022                            Amor Eterno. Tonalli Studio, East Los Angeles, CA

 

2022                            Intergalactic Open. Shock Boxx, Hermosa Beach, CA

 

2021                            35 x 35 Bicentennial. Departamento de Asuntos Culturales, Los Angeles, CA

 

2021                            All Media 2021. Irvine Fine Art Center, Irvine, CA

 

2020                            Brand 48 Works on Paper. Brand Library Art Galleries, Glendale, CA

 

2020                            Don’t Touch Your Face. Shock Boxx, Hermosa Beach, CA

 

2020                            Paint: Medium as Power in a Time of Crisis. Barret Art Center, Poughkeepsie, NY

 

2020                            The Same Thing Every day. Moorpark College Art Gallery, Moorpark, CA

 

2019                            The 35x35 Self & Identity. Centro Cultural Cinematografico, Los Angeles, CA

 

2019                            Brand 47 Works on Paper. Brand Library Art Galleries, Glendale, CA

 

2019                            Los Angeles Paint Itself. Angel City Brewery, Los Angeles, CA                             

2019                            We Rise 2019. Online Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

 

2019                            33rd Annual La Luzapalooza Exhibition. La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los                                            Angeles, CA

 

2019                            LA Open 2019. TAG Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

 

2018                            2018 California Open Exhibition. TAG Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

 

2018                            Hear Our Voices. Avenue 50 Studio, Los Angeles, CA

 

2018                            2018 CSUN Graduate Exhibition. CSUN Art Galleries, Northridge, CA

 

​PUBLIC ART

 

2022                            Streetscape DTLA: An opportunity to paint a mural outside the  US Bank Tower Down Town, Los Angeles. Los Angeles, CA                             

 

2017                            CSUN We Rice Mural: Spring semester collaboration with classmates           working on Mural. Northridge, CA 

COLLECTIONS

 

2021                            More People Than You Know, “A Gift to The World.” Metro Art LA, Los Angeles, CA

 

2018                            Working Progress. USU Student Art Collection, CSUN, Northridge, CA.

 

PUBLICATIONS

 

Orange County Breeze. (2019). Invisible Hands: Eleven Million by Hedy Torres | Orange County Breeze. [online] Available at: http://www.oc-breeze.com/2019/05/26/139266_invisible-hands-eleven-million-by-hedy-torres/ [Accessed 7 Nov. 2019].

 

Stories, L. (2019). Meet Hedy Torres - Voyage LA Magazine | LA City Guide. [online] Voyagela.com. Available at: http://voyagela.com/interview/meet-hedy-torres-hedy-torres-invisible-hands-eleven-million-east-la/ [Accessed 7 Nov. 2019].

 

 

Arts.tioh.org. (2019). Hedy Torres Invisible Hands: Eleven Million TIOH Arts and Culture. [online] Available at: https://arts.tioh.org/event/hedy-torresinvisible-hands-eleven-million/ [Accessed 7 Nov. 2019].

 

 

Martinez, C. (2017). Graduate Student Gives a Voice to Undocumented Students Through Artwork. [online] The Sundial. Available at: https://sundial.csun.edu/112040/arts-entertainment/graduate-student-gives-a-voice-to-undocumented-students-through-artwork/ [Accessed 7 Nov. 2019].

 

 

Barajas, J. (2017). Retratos de Resiliencia Destacan las Injusticias de Donald Trump al Revocar DACA | La Opinión. [online] La Opinión. Available at: https://laopinion.com/2018/05/04/retratos-de-resiliencia-destacan-las-injusticias-de-donald-trump-al-revocar-daca/ [Accessed 7 Nov. 2019].

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