Cultural Infusions

An Art Collective

May 4- June 25, 2023

Cultural Infusions

In this exhibition we want to share our cultural infusions by using color, texture, symbols, and our love. Our lives are shaped by our cultural beliefs and our artistic blessings that come alive on the surfaces we work on.

Infusiones Culturales

En esta exhibición queremos compartir nuestras infusiones culturales usando color, textura, símbolos y nuestro amor. Nuestras vidas están moldeadas por nuestras creencias culturales y nuestras bendiciones artísticas que cobran vida en las superficies en las que trabajamos.

Artist Exhibited:

Lety Alvarez, Luis Mackinney, Jose Cruz, and Gabriela Angeles

Lety Alvarez Artist Bio

Leticia Alvarez is a Mexican artist, proud of her roots and heritage. In her work traditional Mexican toys, alebrijes, houses, Golden Age cinema artist are often display to evoke culture, traditions and memories. Leticia also believes in the importance of collaboration with Museums and Galleries to promote art and art education. The artist has collaborated with the NCMA as an art teacher for different events, as well as with Artspace and the COR Museum where she has also made the altar for the Day of the Dead for the past six years.

Luis MacKinney

The work of Luis MacKinney pushes geographic, color, and cultural boundaries. Self-taught, he innovates with each piece to immerse viewers in a unique concept of art.

The artist believes in the power of art to remark on the most important aspects of human existence. With his art, MacKinney goes beyond the strokes to infuse each canvas with emotions, believing that art is a universal way of expressing what one feels. “Making art is a peaceful way to change the world.”

Luis MacKinney was born in Mexico City and spent his childhood and adolescence in the municipality of Ecatepec in the State of Mexico. He studied International Relations with a specialty in Diplomacy and Foreign Policy. In November 2013, he moved to Raleigh for his job. It was in early 2014 when MacKinney found his passion for art during a trip to the Outer Banks. There he was able to visualize the sunset which changed his concept of nature and motivated him to explore art. His first works were done in watercolor and soon after he decided to start painting with acrylics. Since 2015, Luis MacKinney has been part of several exhibitions in festivals and galleries across North Carolina including the City of Raleigh Museum, Artspace, Orange County Arts Commission & Eno Arts Mill and the Durham Arts Council.

Jose Cruz Artist Bio

Jose Cruz is a Puerto Rican/Columbian Latino Artist. He has a unique style and loves working with color and all mediums.

Mr. Cruz graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BA in Fine Arts in 1996 from New Jersey City University. In 1986 he started substitute teaching in the Newark Public Schools. It inspired him to pursue a career as an Art Educator. In 1998 he became a certified teacher in Art.
For 38 years he has exhibited his works in the United States and abroad. His most recent works are currently featured in Humacao Puerto Rico. It started at the Newark Museum’s Elementary Art Exhibits to Galleries within the NJ/NY area and now in North Carolina. His influences as an artist is attributed to others which includes Professor Bernard, Eleta Caldwell, Mr. K, Russell Murray, Ben Jones, Keith Haring, Rascal, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Miro, Caldor, Peter Max, Gustav Klimt, and many others.

Gabriela Angeles Artist Bio

Originally from Monterrey, México, Gaby Angeles moved to the US in 2006. Her artistic journey first started around age 14 as a dancer and singer/song-writer.

In 2014 she discovered her love for acrylic painting and immersed herself in it. During the pandemic Gaby spent her time painting digitally and doing uplifting chalk art in the parks of Raleigh NC as well as downtown Raleigh. You can always find Gaby either at her home studio painting or at a salsa dance class/social. Either way she always finds a way to express herself through art.