Sow & Tailor is excited to present Barrio Blues, a solo exhibition by Los Angeles-based artist Enio Hernandez, opening on Saturday, October 26th, from 3-6pm. Barrio Blues, is a compelling collection of mixed media paintings and photography. Hernandez’s work deeply explores the Chicano experience, offering an intimate portrayal of race, language, sexuality, and identity through his unique artistic lens.
In Barrio Blues, Hernandez draws inspiration from the rich, complex cultures of Latinx communities across the U.S. and Latin America. As a Mexican-Guatemalan American gay man who grew up in working-class neighborhoods of Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles, Hernandez infuses his mixed media work with his lived experiences. His visual language celebrates the intersection of cultures and identities, weaving together influences from his family’s Mexican and Guatemalan roots, childhood memories, and moments of surrealism. The result is a vibrant exploration of heritage and identity, expressed through a blend of colorful abstraction and cultural symbolism.
His ongoing photographic series captures the vibrant urban landscapes that pulse through these communities, documenting daily life in metropolitan cities from Los Angeles to Rio de Janeiro. Informed by L.A.’s sprawling urban environment and its dynamic Latinx population, Hernandez’s photography navigates the delicate intersection between the built environment and the natural world, revealing a layered narrative of culture and place.
