Gabriela Alemán (born c. 1995),[1] also known online as Smug Morenita, is an American visual artist and illustrator. She is a self-taught artist who creates comic-styled pop art that depicts Latinx culture and iconography.[2]
Gabriela Alemán | |
|---|---|
| Born | ca. 1995 (age 28–29) San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Other names | Smug Morenita |
| Occupation(s) | Illustrator, painter |
| Movement | Pop art, Latin American art |
| Website | Official website |
Biography
editAlemán was born and raised in San Francisco, California, U.S..[2] She is a self-identified queer woman and a first-generation American.[3] She is the daughter of immigrants from Nicaragua and El Salvador.[4][5][6] Alemán grew up in the Mission District of San Francisco, where her family was once evicted from their home during the "early dot-com boom".[1]
Career
editIn 2019, Alemán helped to design and create the artwork for the Loteria cards passed out during the #MissionLoteria initiative in San Francisco.[7] On December 14, 2019 Alemán was one of the artists featured at the 6th annual multidisciplinary exhibition at the Acción Latina’s Juan R. Fuentes Gallery.[8] On February 5, 2020, Alemán was featured at the Galería de La Raza with the opening of the exhibit titled In The Name Of…?.[2] In addition to being an artist, Gabriela Alemán is also a community organizer and activist.[9] At 26 years old, Alemán co-founds the Mission Meals Coalition in order to provide fresh ingredients and meals to those in need.[9] Alemán and her sisters created the coalition during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.[9] They started out by delivering meals and groceries but now manage a community fridge providing free ingredients.[9] The Mission Meals Coalition does not receive any government funding and is kept running by donations and volunteers.[9] Donated items are inspected carefully and determined as safe to eat.[9] Alemán also makes sure that many of the groceries offered are widely accepted by the Latinx community.[9] Alemán is also the co-president of Latin@ Young Democrats of San Francisco and acted as a part time campaign manager for Gabriela López.[4] She has also worked as a Calle 24 council member, and a Chavalos de Aqui y Allá board member.[10]
Works
edit- During the 2019 #MissionLoteria initiative in San Francisco, Alemán worked alongside artist Ivan C. Lopez, and Valeria Olguín to design Loteria cards.[7]
- In 2019, Alemán's artwork was featured at the 6th annual multidisciplinary exhibition at the Acción Latina’s Juan R. Fuentes Gallery.[8]
- Alemán's artwork was featured at the Galería de La Raza with the opening of the exhibit titled In The Name Of…?.[2]
- Some of Alemán's artwork is featured on the website for The Center for Cultural Power.[11]
- In 2019, Alemán did an illustration for a magazine published by El Tecolote.[12]
- On January 14, 2019, Alemán's artwork was on view at The Ramp Gallery.[13]
- Alemán did illustrations for Disney+ and Wells Fargo.[14]
References
edit- ^ a b Clark, Laura (2021-09-22). "In The Know Honors: Gabriela Alemán". Yahoo! In The Know. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
- ^ a b c d "In The Name Of...? Works by Gabriela Alemán". Galería de la Raza. February 2020. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
- ^ Gomez, Shirley (2020-09-17). "Latinx illustrators making your feed look like a virtual gallery". HOLA. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
- ^ a b "Gabriela López Just Became the Youngest Elected Official in San Francisco". Teen Vogue. Condé Nast. 2019-01-11. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
- ^ "15 Hispanic and Latinx Artists You Should Be Following on Instagram". Oprah Daily. 2021-07-16. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
- ^ "How art, Instagram helped this Latina activist figure out why it's cool to be Central American". ABC7 New York. 2021-09-15. Retrieved 2023-12-08.
- ^ a b Mark, Julian (2019-11-29). "'Lotería'-themed 'shop local' campaign coming to Mission Street on Saturday". Mission Local. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
- ^ a b "Cómplices en la Resistencia". Acción Latina. 2019-12-02. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
- ^ a b c d e f g "'Support Is the Force': At Family-Led Mission Meals Coalition, Serving the Community Runs Deep". KQED. 2021-01-08. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
- ^ "Bay Area Nicaraguans react to country's political turmoil through art, solidarity". El Tecolote. 2020-01-30. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
- ^ "Artist Gallery - The Center for Cultural Power". www.culturalpower.org. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
- ^ "Family seeks justice for slain Indigenous mother". El Tecolote. 2019-04-25. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
- ^ "Gabriela Alemán at The Ramp Gallery". SOMArts. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
- ^ "5 Notable Hispanics in Underground Art – Anna D. Smith Fine Art and Real Estate Broker". adsmith.broker ([better source needed]). Retrieved 2023-12-04.