Justin Favela: Ruta Madre

Las Vegas-based artist Justin Favela will present a new site-specific installation and solo exhibition on the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis’ Project Wall.

Favela creates vibrant large-scale murals and sculptures inspired by art history, community, celebration, pop culture and his Mexican-Guatemalan upbringing in the U.S. As a multidisciplinary artist, he is interested in exploring the notions of authenticity, place and identity using familiar materials to create his pieces.

His process often begins with an exploration of a place and its identity. For his project at CAM, Favela will survey St. Louis’ landscape, history and collections to inform the new work. Using paper and glue, his labor-intensive technique evokes piñatas and party decorations as symbols of Latinx joy and visibility.

Favela’s colorful and often humorous works aim to critique cultural stereotypes and create public dialogue around what it means to be Latinx in the U.S.