Favianna Rodriguez

Rodriguez was born in the Oakland, California in 1978, in the Fruitvale neighborhood.Bañales, Xamuel. "A Conversation with Favianna Rodriguez: World-Making through Decolonial Feminist Artivism." Feminist Formations 35, no. 1 (2023): 154-194. https://dx.doi.org/10.1353/ff.2023.a902073. Her parents are Peruvian and migrated to California in the late 1960s. Rodriguez herself identifies as a queer latina with Afro-Peruvian roots.{{Cite web |title=Favianna Rodriguez – The Oakland Artists Project |url=https://artsinoakland.org/articles/favianna-rodriguez/ |access-date=2025-03-12}} She attended Centro Infantil school in Oakland in her early childhood. In Mexico, Rodriguez became interested in political artwork. Learning from politically-engaged works of Frida Kahlo, she began to identify with both Kahlo herself and her powerful political works.{{Cite web |title=Favianna Rodriguez – The Oakland Artists Project |url=https://artsinoakland.org/articles/favianna-rodriguez/ |access-date=2025-03-12}}

Fruitvale is a predominantly Latinx neighborhood. Here, Rodriguez experienced and became aware of anti-Latinx racism. She observed that students from her community were under-served by the school system, profiled as gang members, and women of color having negative representation in the media.{{cite web |last=Leal |first=Samantha |date=January 18, 2013 |others={{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable (WP:NOTRS).|date=September 2024}} |title=Favianna Rodriguez Talks Immigration, Rosario Dawson and Her New Web Series |url=http://www.latina.com/entertainment/artist-activist-favianna-rodriguez-talks-immigration-migrant-issues-documentary |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103210547/http://www.latina.com/entertainment/artist-activist-favianna-rodriguez-talks-immigration-migrant-issues-documentary |archive-date=2021-01-03 |access-date=2013-12-22 |work=Latina |type=interview}} Rodriguez went to live in Mexico City from age 13 to 15, first with her aunt and then in a rented room.{{cite web |last=Cohen |first=Susan |date=July 1, 2009 |title=Favianna and the New Print Revolution |url=http://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/favianna-and-the-new-print-revolution/Content?oid=1370282 |access-date=2013-12-22 |work=East Bay Express}} She became interested in politically engaged artwork, learning about the political context of murals, and the work of Frida Kahlo with whom she immediately identified.{{cite web |last=Vasquez |first=Tina |date=2013 |others={{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable (WP:NOTRS).|date=September 2024}} |title=Artist Statement |url=http://bitchmagazine.org/article/artist-statement-interview-Favianna-Rodriguez-art-poster-politics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130216131530/http://bitchmagazine.org/article/artist-statement-interview-Favianna-Rodriguez-art-poster-politics |archive-date=February 16, 2013 |access-date= |work=Bitch |type=interview}} When Rodriguez returned to Oakland, she began to respond to anti-immigrant and anti-latino policies in California by associating herself with other Latino activists. She began staging walkouts and creating flyers. Her political artistic career began to really take shape.{{Cite journal |last=Bañales |first=Xamuel |date=2023 |title=A Conversation with Favianna Rodriguez: World-Making through Decolonial Feminist Artivism |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/902073 |journal=Feminist Formations |volume=35 |issue=1 |pages=154–194 |doi=10.1353/ff.2023.a902073 |issn=2151-7371|url-access=subscription }} When she was 16, California Proposition 187 was introduced, marking state level anti-immigrant legislation.

After graduating from Skyline High School in Oakland in 1996, Rodriguez received numerous scholarships and chose to attend the University of California, Berkeley. She withdrew at age 20 indicating she wanted to follow her path rather than limit herself to her parents' wishes. She was inspired by printmaking, introduced to her by Chicana artist Yreina Cervantez, and decided to pursue a career in political art.

Rodriguez began as a political poster designer in the 1990s in the struggle for racial justice in Oakland, California. Her designs and projects range on a variety of different issues including globalization, immigration, feminism, patriarchy, interdependence, and genetically modified foods.{{cite web |author=Spark |date=25 July 2007 |title=Favianna Rodriguez |url=http://ww2.kqed.org/spark/favianna-rodriguez/ |publisher=KQED Public Media for Northern CA}} Rodriguez studied the history of political art, including the artwork and graphics associated with the Black Panthers and the 1970s feminist movement, through her residency at the Center for the Study of Political Graphics in Los Angeles.Rodriguez was drawn to posters and reproducible art like printmaking for their power to educate, organize, and liberate communities.{{cite web|date=March 30, 2015|publisher=Global Voices|title=Favianna Rodríguez: 'Artists are Risk Takers and Truth Speakers'|url=https://globalvoices.org/2015/03/30/favianna-rodriguez-artists-are-risk-takers-and-truth-speakers/}}

Rodriguez has worked closely with artists in Mexico, Europe, and Japan, and her works have appeared in collections at Bellas Artes, The Glasgow Print Studio, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.{{cite web |url=https://diversityarts.stanford.edu/people/favianna-rodriguez |title=Favianna Rodriguez |publisher=Stanford |access-date=2016-05-16 |archive-date=2019-09-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190912152615/https://diversityarts.stanford.edu/people/favianna-rodriguez |url-status=dead }} In 2003, with Jesus Barraza, Rodriguez helped establish the Taller Tupac Amaru print studio to promote the practice of screen printing among California-based artists and foster its resurgence.{{cite web |url=http://www.tallertupacamaru.com/index.php?s=14 |title=About Us |publisher=tallertupacamaru |access-date=2016-05-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210050332/http://www.tallertupacamaru.com/index.php?s=14 |archive-date=2007-12-10 |url-status=dead }} Rodriguez also co-founded EastSide Arts Alliance and Cultural Center, an organization of artists and community organizers intended to promote community sustainability through political and cultural awareness and leadership development.{{cite web |url=http://www.eastsideartsalliance.com/about/index.php |title=About Us |publisher=EastSide Arts Alliance |access-date=2013-12-22 |archive-date=2016-10-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014204905/http://www.eastsideartsalliance.com/about/index.php |url-status=dead }} She serves on the board of Presente.org, a national online organizing network dedicated to the political empowerment of Latino communities.{{cite web |url=http://www.presente.org/about/ |title=About Us |publisher=Presente.org}}

• 2024, Favianna Rodriguez: Power From The Roots, solo exhibition, Eloise Pickard Smith Gallery, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, U.S.{{Cite web |title=January 2024 – The Humanities Institute |url=https://thi.ucsc.edu/event/from-the-roots-favianna-rodriguez-artist-talk/ |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=thi.ucsc.edu}}
• 2021, New Time: Art and Feminisms in the 21st Century, group exhibition, BAMPFA, Berkeley, California, U.S.{{Cite web |date=2020-08-17 |title=New Time: Art and Feminisms in the 21st Century |url=https://bampfa.org/program/new-time-art-and-feminisms-21st-century |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=BAMPFA |language=en}}
• 2017 Multicultural Center at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California{{cite web |title=Winter Art Exhibit: The Radical Imagination {{!}} UCSB Multicultural Center |url=https://mcc.sa.ucsb.edu/2017/01/09/winter-2017/winter-art-exhibit-the-radical-imagination |website=mcc.sa.ucsb.edu |access-date=14 October 2024}}
• 2016 Recipient of the Creative Work Fund Award, San Francisco, CA{{cite web |last1=Phillips |first1=Frances |title=Favianna Rodriguez and Mobilize the Immigrant Vote {{!}} Creative Work Fund |url=https://creativeworkfund.org/?portfolio=favianna-rodriguez-and-mobilize-the-immigrant-vote |website=creativeworkfund.org \|access-date=14 October 2024}}
• 2016 Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco, California, U.S.{{cite web |title=Take This Hammer: Art + Media Activism from the Bay Area |url=https://ybca.org/event/take-this-hammer-art-media-activism-from-the-bay-area/ |website=YBCA |access-date=14 October 2024}}
• 2015-2016 Museo del Barrio, Manhattan, New York, U.S.{{cite web |title=#CarvingThroughBorders {{!}} CultureStrike |url=https://www.elmuseo.org/exhibition/carvingthroughborders-culturestrike/ |website=El Museo del Barrio |access-date=14 October 2024}}
• 2011 Recipient of Innovation Grant, Center for Cultural Innovation, Los Angeles, CA{{cite web |title=:: CCI :: Grant Submissions :: |url=https://www.cciarts.org/cgi/page.cgi/_memberlog.html?meta_Funding_Status=Approved&mem_first_name=favianna&mem_last_name=&mem_organization=&meta_Year=&meta_Program=&meta_Round=&type=ia_arc_grant§ion_id=1&log=do_search_form |website=www.cciarts.org |publisher=Center for Cultural Innovation |access-date=14 October 2024}}
• 2010 Inducted into Women's Hall of Fame (Alameda County) in Arts & Culture, Alameda County, CA{{cite web |title=Favianna Rodriguez - 2010 - Women's Hall Of Fame - Alameda County |url=https://www.acgov.org/whof/inductees/2010/rodriguez.htm |website=www.acgov.org |publisher=Alameda County Women's Hall of Fame |access-date=14 October 2024}}
• 2007 Recipient of Innovation Grant, Center for Cultural Innovation, Los Angeles, CA{{cite web |title=:: CCI :: Grant Submissions :: |url=https://www.cciarts.org/cgi/page.cgi/_memberlog.html?meta_Funding_Status=Approved&mem_first_name=favianna&mem_last_name=&mem_organization=&meta_Year=&meta_Program=&meta_Round=&type=ia_arc_grant§ion_id=1&log=do_search_form |website=www.cciarts.org |publisher=Center for Cultural Innovation |access-date=14 October 2024}}
• 2006-2007 Mexican Fine Arts Center, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.{{cite web |title=National Museum of Mexican Art, Pilsen, Chicago |url=https://nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org/events/atencion |website=National Museum of Mexican Art, Pilsen, Chicago |access-date=14 October 2024 |language=en}}
• 2006 Recipient of the Belle Foundation Individual Artist Award, San Jose, CA{{cite web |title=GRANTEES – Belle Foundation |url=https://bellefoundation.org/grantees/ |website=Belle |publisher=Belle Foundation |access-date=14 October 2024}}
• 2005 Art Is A Hammer Award from the Center for the Study of Political Graphics, CA{{cite web |title=Past Award Honorees |url=https://www.politicalgraphics.org/past-award-honorees |website=political-graphics |publisher=Center for the Study of Political Graphics |access-date=14 October 2024 |language=en}}
• 2005 Parco Museum, Tokyo, Japan{{cite web |title=ARCHIVES - PARCO MUSEUM - 平和ポスター展 「Yo! What Happened to Peace?」 ～平和って、どうしちゃったんだっけ？～ |url=https://art.parco.jp/acr/web/archives/parcomuseum/heiwa_poster/index.html |website=art.parco.jp |publisher=Parco Museum |access-date=14 October 2024}}

{{reflist|33em}}

{{wikiquote}}

• [http://www.favianna.com/ Favianna Rodriguez's webpage]
• [http://culturestrike.net/ Culturestrike]
• [http://presente.org/ Presente]
• [https://www.library.ucsb.edu/special-collections/cema/favianna-rodriguez/ Favianna Rodriguez Papers]
• {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20160620194929/http://www.culturestrike.org/project/migration-is-beautiful Migration is Beautiful]}}

{{United States Women's Halls of Fame}}

{{Alameda County (California) Women's Hall of Fame}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rodriguez, Favianna}}

Category:1978 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American women artists

Category:Activists from Oakland, California

Category:American printmakers

Category:American women printmakers

Category:American feminists

Category:American LGBTQ artists

Category:American LGBTQ rights activists

Category:American people of Peruvian descent

Category:Artists from Oakland, California

Category:Hispanic and Latino American people

Category:LGBTQ Hispanic and Latino American people

Category:LGBTQ people from California

Category:Activists from California

Category:Artists from California