Fernando Andrade (b. 1987) was born in the border town of Acuña, Mexico, and relocated at age seven to San Antonio, Texas. As an artist, Andrade works in two distinct bodies of work: representational drawings and abstract paintings. In his drawings, simple narratives are created by using figures and objects to explore current sociopolitical events or personal family stories, as portrayed in the series La Patria.

In contrast, his abstract paintings are improvised and organic colorful compositions. He views the process as therapeutic, allowing himself to imagine space, arrangement, and rhythmic affinities, which to him celebrate life itself.

Being open to working with colorful abstract paintings, graphite on spam mail envelopes, or even stitching on paper help Andrade discover and explore new concepts but, most importantly, stay actively connected to what he values most, the freedom to create.

Andrade was the recipient of the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures individual artist grant in 2018. He has exhibited his work in numerous group and solo shows locally and nationally including exhibitions at (Solo) Peter’s Project Gallery, Santa Fe, NM; (Solo) Blue Star Contemporary, San Antonio, TX; (Group) National Museum of Mexican Art, Chicago, IL, (Group) Meadows Museum of Art, Shreveport, LA; (Group) Southwest School of Art, San Antonio, TX. Andrade has attended residencies at the Vermont Studio Center, and Elevarte Community Studio in Chicago, IL.