Crystal Tamez (cry)

HEButt Community Mural Lead Artist

Crystal Tamez is a Chicana artist, muralist, and teaching artist native to San Antonio. She is a self taught artist—learning techniques from library books, YouTube, and from her artist peers. Tamez prides herself on asking questions and always learning new techniques and mediums. She is inspired by her peers and artists that share similar stories of resilience and growth from poverty and life experiences. Tamez’s work is focused on community murals, large scale acrylic painting, and traditional Chicano folk art like paños—handkerchiefs that are carefully drawn on with ink or pencil. She considers herself a storyteller, sharing her life experiences and her identity as a focal point of her work. The murals she helps paint are community murals where she becomes the voice of the people touching on issues that aren’t brought to light. Tamez’s personal style of work has soft brush strokes and flawless blendinging .Her color palette is chosen carefully, using color psychology to express feelings and emotions. Tamez’s work pulls the eye and captures the gaze of the viewer; she uses symbolism in her work, giving the image a deeper meaning, becoming a storytelling moment. She does research for any mural she paints to gain insight from the local community. At the young age of nine, Tamez began her lifelong relationship with Westside nonprofit mural organization San Anto Cultural Arts through youth programming in murals, literacy, and cultura. She is currently the Mural Coor ... view more »

Crystal Tamez is a Chicana artist, muralist, and teaching artist native to San Antonio. She is a self taught artist—learning techniques from library books, YouTube, and from her artist peers. Tamez prides herself on asking questions and always learning new techniques and mediums. She is inspired by her peers and artists that share similar stories of resilience and growth from poverty and life experiences. Tamez’s work is focused on community murals, large scale acrylic painting, and traditional Chicano folk art like paños—handkerchiefs that are carefully drawn on with ink or pencil. She considers herself a storyteller, sharing her life experiences and her identity as a focal point of her work. The murals she helps paint are community murals where she becomes the voice of the people touching on issues that aren’t brought to light. Tamez’s personal style of work has soft brush strokes and flawless blendinging .Her color palette is chosen carefully, using color psychology to express feelings and emotions. Tamez’s work pulls the eye and captures the gaze of the viewer; she uses symbolism in her work, giving the image a deeper meaning, becoming a storytelling moment. She does research for any mural she paints to gain insight from the local community. At the young age of nine, Tamez began her lifelong relationship with Westside nonprofit mural organization San Anto Cultural Arts through youth programming in murals, literacy, and cultura. She is currently the Mural Coordinator and Preservation Manager at the organization that sparked her creative career. Tamez has focused her career on giving herself a voice through her skills and commitment to assisting community artists grow. Tamez has been on the cover of the HEB Magazine Echoes, featured in the San Antonio report, the Express Newspaper ,Texas Highway Magazine , and has made multiple appearances on Fox San Antonio News as well as Spectrum News. In 2023, she traveled nationally, speaking at a conference in San Diego called “Our Walls Speak.” Tamez had a solo show at the 1906 Gallery, and has collaborated with and was mentored by several renowned artists including Cruz Ortiz, Mary Agnes Rodriguez, and Rudy Herrera. She believes that mentoring young artists, and providing opportunities to community artists is vital in keeping the Chicano tradition of muralism alive on the Westside of San Antonio.

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Artist Statement of Work

Tell us about your work (style, approach, philosophy, subject and/or theme):

I am an Chicana artist from the Westside of San Antonio,Texas. I am inspired and influenced by my heritage and social causes that are driven by peace, justice, and protection of cultures. I strive to make a change in people, my city, and the community through my artwork that highlights social change. Art has been a part of me from a very young age, and has taught me to easily adapt to different art styles—having done Chicano folk art, contemporary, abstract and Pop Art. I have worked on archiving, mural restoration, and other kinds of art restorations. I find a deep connection to my community in preserving the culture and history left behind by other artists who have enriched our city, much like myself, with my art. My work is influenced by my emotions and interests, which has allowed me to create a vibrant and expressive art style.