Beyond the Shape: el arte de Chente Rodriguez

Untitled, Vicente “Chente” Rodriguez, Acrylic on canvas, 67″ x 124″, 1976 Apr. 11 @ 6:00 pm – Aug. 3 @ 11:59 pm About the Exhibit: This retrospective invites the viewer into the intricate world of Vicente “Chente” Rodriguez, a prolific artist born in Villa Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí, Mexico (b. 1945). At the age of seven, Rodriguez emigrated to the United States to live with his aunt and uncle eventually settling in Austin, TX, where he continues to live and work. Rodriguez studied painting at San Antonio College and then transferred to The University of Texas in Austin from 1969 to 1972, during this time he became involved with the Chicano Movement. He created posters and logos for organizations, protests, and events related to the movement, as well as illustrating album covers for Tejano musicians such as Little Joe and Ruben Ramos. After graduating, Rodriguez continued to build his artistic career by designing and illustrated book covers for a variety of organizations and institutions, including the Juarez-Lincoln University and Bob Bullock Museum. Parallel to his illustrations for the Chicano Movement, Rodriguez began to develop a distinctive and dynamic geometric painting style, offering a glimpse into the artist’s exploration of aesthetic expressions through color, shape, and form. His geometric abstract art has been quietly hibernating for many decades with almost no public exposure. Beyond the Shape: el arte de Chente Rodriguez brings these works to light, placing them within the larger context of contemporary art and broadening the cannon of Chicano/a/x art aesthetics. Alongside his focus on geometric abstraction, Rodriguez has also built a career in commercial screen printing. For more than 30 years, Rodriguez has dedicated himself to serving Austin’s diverse communities through his screen printing work. Producing thousands of T-shirts for local families, churches, shops, politicians, artists, and many businesses, helping shape the city’s cultural fabric. Beyond the Shape not only reintroduces us to Rodriguez’s artistic vision but also underscores the richness and complexity of Chicano/a/x contributions to the ongoing dialogue of modern and contemporary art. Through his drawings, prints, paintings, and ephemera, this exhibition highlights Chente Rodriguez’s contributions as well as his enduring impact on the cultural landscape of Austin and the broader Chicano/a/x art movement. The Mexic-Arte Museum invites you to explore the depth of Rodriguez’s artistic legacy, offering a unique opportunity to engage with the work of a pioneering artist whose legacy will continue to resonate with past, present, and future generations. Join us for the opening reception! April 11, 2025 – August 3, 2025 Location Become A Sponsor