“Fridalandia(2017), paper, glue and found objects, installation at the Denver Art Museum, photo by Mikayla WhitmoreJustin Favela creates colorful artworks that center around his identity as a queer Latinx artist living in the Southwestern United States. The artist’s piñata-inspired pieces reference his Mexican and Guatemalan heritage and explore elements associated with his family, pop culture, food dishes, and the art world. Each life-size installation or colorful nature-based “paintingis constructed by layering multi-colored cut paper or using the papier-mâché technique seen on the popular party object.“I have been making a lot of work using the piñata as a medium because I see it as the perfect symbol that stands for my identity and by using it, I am reclaiming the piñata and the culture it represents,Favela tells Colossal.One of his large-scale lowrider piñatas was recently included in the Peterson Automotive Museum‘s exhibition The High Art of Riding Low: Ranflas, Corazón e Inspiración. You can see more of the artist’s work on Instagram.“Popocatepetl e Iztaccihuatl vistos desde Atlixco, after Jose Maria Velasco(2016), paper and glue, 64 x 82 inches, photo by Mikayla Whitmore“Gypsy Rose Piñata(2017), found objects, cardboard, styrofoam, paper and glue, 5 x 19.5 x 6.5 feet, photo courtesy of Petersen Automotive Museum“Valle de México desde el Cerro de Santa Isabel, after Jose Maria Velasco(2016), paper and glue on board, 64 x 86 inches, photo by Mikayla Whitmore“Ahuehuete de la Noche Triste, after José María Velasco,24 x 15.75 inches, photo by Mikayla Whitmore“Floor Nachos(2017), cardboard, paper, glue and found object, size varies, photo by Simon Mills, The MAC Belfast“Doritos, Nacho Cheese(2015), cardboard, paper and glue, 36 x 36, photo by Mikayla Whitmore“Piñata Motel(2016), paper and glue on existing motel, photo by Krystal Ramirez“Lowrider Piñata(2014), cardboard, paper and glue, 5 x 19.5 x 6.5 feet, photo by Mikayla Whitmore
