Frank Guerra …Young , Up & Coming Hispanic Artist Reaches for New Heights …Memories from childhood with family is basis for artist inspiration and success.

Frank Guerra

Originally from Freer TX

The youngest of four children, his father (Pete Guerra Jr.) supported the family as a mechanic in a small Texas town called Freer. Frank remembers always having family around and having support of his mother (Angelita Guerra). He reflects how important education was growing up because his mother and father grew up in a time when education for Hispanics wasn’t always guaranteed. His father only completed the first grade. Mr. Guerra remembers stories his father sometimes told about the way teachers used to treat students who did not understand or speak English. His father often talked about how he had dreams and goals that weren’t supported by his teachers, or parents. “I guess that is why my mother and father felt it was most important for me to receive an education. Education as far as they could for see was finishing high school. I don’t think they ever imagined that they would have a child that would move onto college. As I grew, I became really involved in comic books. In a strange way, I owe my entire life and career to comics.” This was really the first time he actually became interested in any type of art. Frank didn’t realize it at the time, but comics are the best way to learn the anatomy. In the nineties, all of the comic book heroes wore spandex so anatomy drawings were available. Frank states that “I never focused on drawing my own ideas when I was young. I didn’t even think about creating my own drawing until I met a really interesting group of art majors when I attended Texas A&M University Kingsville.”

Mr. Guerra enjoyed being part of the art department in Kingsville. He was allowed to explore painting with freedom and was fortunate to have had amazing professors such as Dr. Shepereal and Santa Barraza. Frank Guerra was given the opportunity to paint in Oaxaca Mexico for two months as part of a collegiate foreign exchange program. As a professional he had the opportunity to exhibit in Oaxaca Mexico as part of the Benito Juarez School of Art. He has also exhibited in Austin, Texas at La Pena Art Gallery and exhibited art on several on-line galleries. He has recently created a website witch will have original paintings and posters for various budgets. In his most recent work, Frank has explored his Mexican-American heritage by re-creating some of the vintage and iconic “Loteria” game cards similar to American bingo. Mr. Guerra states, “I chose this game as a topic and a platform of my work to pay homage to my family and the times we spent playing the game. I feel the game represent a time in my life when my family was together as a whole. We talked, laughed and ate as we played this game on the weekends when I visited my grandmother. In some ways when my grandmother passed away the game stopped and the family has suffered ever since. In a strange way I would like remember and try to help my family remember the way we were. I feel this collection will trigger not only my memories but also other Hispanics like me.”