Armando Sebastian – Artist Bio

Armando Sebastian is a narrative painter whose vibrant and evocative work draws deeply from his lived experiences, exploring themes of identity, gender, love, and spirituality. Born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico, Sebastian’s early interests in theater and fashion evolved into a profound artistic practice rooted in storytelling and visual symbolism. Now based in Dallas, Texas, he continues to weave autobiographical details into his art, using rich, vivid colors inspired by Mexican folk art and the ex-voto painting tradition.

Sebastian’s paintings often reflect human vulnerability and pain, rendered through poetic allegory and adorned with cultural symbols, music icons, and lyrical landscapes. His use of bright palettes and allegorical imagery invites audiences into deeply personal yet universally resonant spaces that transcend language and cultural barriers.

Over the past decade, Sebastian has exhibited widely across North Texas and beyond, with his work featured in prominent venues such as the Arlington Museum of Art, the Latino Cultural Center, and galleries in Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York City. His artistic merit has been recognized with several awards, including The Otis and Velma Dozier Travel Grant from the Dallas Museum of Art, and the Artistic Merit Award from ArtSpace111 Gallery’s Fourth Annual Regional Juried Exhibition in Fort Worth, Texas.

In 2018, he was selected for New Texas Talent at Craighead Green Gallery and participated in MaricónX, a notable traveling group exhibition highlighting queer Latinx voices throughout Texas. His work has been featured in respected publications such as New American Paintings, PublicArt Magazine, and the Dallas Morning News.

Celebrating his Mexican heritage and queer identity through a bold and compassionate lens, Armando Sebastian continues to create works that challenge, heal, and inspire.

Los Amados / Living in Harmony
Oil on canvas 36×66 inches

Boy from Mars
Oil on canvas 40×30 inches

Serenade / Tropico de Cancer
Acrylic & oil on canvas 60×72 inches

The Magician
Oil on canvas 48×36 inches

Mundo Feliz / My secret world
Acrylic & oil on canvas

Viola Delgado — Visual Artist, Curator, and Public Art Visionary

Viola Delgado is a multidisciplinary visual artist whose work transcends traditional boundaries, blending vibrant imagery, compelling narratives, and a deep emotional resonance. With over 35 years of experience, Delgado’s practice serves as a visual language of the soul—each work emerging from the transformation of a thought into image, color, and form. At the heart of her art lies a profound inquiry: why a specific color, placement, or image emerges to convey a narrative that must be seen, felt, and understood.

Delgado has played a significant role in shaping the artistic landscape of Dallas and beyond through her roles as a studio artist, public art designer, curator, and teaching artist. Her extensive public commissions include works for Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Dallas City Hall, and various community institutions. Notable projects include the Canopy of Diversity sculpture, the DFW Airport Terminal D medallion, and multiple transit station artworks that reflect the cultural tapestry of the communities they serve.

She has curated landmark exhibitions such as Diez Latinas: One Common Thread, Cinco Latinas, and The Untold Stories, elevating the voices and experiences of Latino and Latina artists across the U.S. and Latin America. Her teaching contributions span decades, inspiring students through programs with Junior Players, Texas Can Academy, and Big Thought.

Delgado’s artwork has been exhibited internationally in Germany, Czech Republic, Mexico, and Spain, as well as nationally in institutions including the Dallas Museum of Art, Louisiana State Museum, Blue Star Gallery, and La Peña Gallery. Her 30-year retrospective at the Latino Cultural Center in 2016 stands as a testament to her enduring influence.

Awards and Honors

• Hispanic 100 Latina Living Legend Recipient (2020)
• Miguel Hidalgo Award for Lifetime Achievement (2019)
• Ford Latina Legend Award (2018)
• Numerous recognitions from the Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport, Latino Cultural Center, and City of Dallas for artistic excellence and civic engagement.

Publications & Media

Delgado’s work has been featured in Dallas Morning News, Dallas Observer, D-Magazine, and Oak Cliff Advocate. Her story is also captured in the documentary films Transformation of a Thought and Fresh Groceries, and she was recently featured in the Amazon Prime docu-series, Story of Art in America (streaming 2024).

Education

• Dallas Baptist University, Dallas, TX
• The Art League School, Alexandria, VA

Viola Delgado continues to consult, curate, and create, nurturing the growth of local and international art communities. She remains committed to the belief that every image holds a story—and that story begins with a thought transformed.

Young Girl with a Violin
Acrylic on Canvas 38X48

Amber waves of grain
Acrylic on Canvas 36X48

Between Two Worlds
Acrylic on Canvas 36X48

The Circle – (El Círculo)
Oil Painting on Canvas 36X36