2018

Fulgencio Lazo

Fulgencio Lazo works predominantly with acrylics on canvas at his studios in Seattle and in his hometown of Oaxaca, Mexico. In Seattle, where he has lived since 1990, he is most known for his tireless work to create programs and spaces that are inclusive and reflect diverse audiences. Most recently Fulgencio co-founded Studio Lazo, an organization of artists and community members creating a welcoming venue that especially showcases the creativity of Latino artists, writers, and musicians. He is also a 2018 recipient of the Mayor's Arts Award.

From his statement for the grant:

To be a painter is to have a responsibility to others. Our work must have a purpose. It has to give life and hope. And we can’t stop there. It is not enough to simply make art that lifts people up, but as painters our actions in the world should do the same. Every day we have many opportunities to practice this--some tiny, seemingly unimportant encounters, like greeting our neighbors with a genuine smile, and some larger, life-long projects, like struggling with local arts institutions to create programs that are inclusive and reflect diverse audiences and cultures.

Whether large or small, these encounters define us much more than any canvas or line possibly could. In fact, in many ways it seems to me that it is because of these very efforts that lines and colors can grace our canvasses with a purpose, bringing joy to the viewer. These firmly held beliefs have been the impetus for my nearly three decades of work to grow the Latino artistic and cultural scene in Seattle, promoting community traditions like Day of the Dead, co-founding Grupo Cultural Oaxaqueno that produces the annual Guelaguetza celebration, and most recently establishing Studio Lazo and International Children’s Day, among many other efforts.

In many of my paintings and sculptures I depict human figures, often masked and seemingly flying. I use the elements of my Oaxacan culture—musicians, instruments, candles, lanterns, and other symbols of our ancient celebrations. I paint in bright colors, a joyful and whimsical style that communicates a sense of playful nostalgia. My most satisfying works are those that require no verbal explanations. I hope to be able to communicate through the purest of forms, enabling all who see the work to find meaning simply through color and line. And lastly, I like to think that my art and my life’s work of bringing folks together to build more inclusive and just communities will help to mend the disconnect that Su so passionately spoke of at the end of her life and for which she established the Conductive Garboil grant.

Visit the artist's website.