Sonoran artist Abby Aceves gains recognition for her art in LA

Mexican artist Abby Aceves has achieved recognition for her work in the United States. 

After several years, California became the place where the Sonora, Mexico native decided to fully devote herself to what is one of her greatest passions, painting. 

Now, her perseverance has led her to be the creator of the award that the Consulate of Mexico in Los Angeles delivers monthly to immigrants who stand out for their contribution to the community. Among Aceves's other significant achievements is having been awarded on the Lakers' home court during a game, an experience she did not fully grasp at the time. 

Aceves was born in Nogales, Sonora,  a border town located 65 miles south of Tucson, Arizona, on the other side of the wall. From there, she crossed without documents into the United States with her family and spent part of her childhood and adolescence in Los Angeles, but when she turned 12, she returned to Mexico, this time to Guadalajara, where she lived with her grandmother for over 20 years, during which time she did not see her mother, who was still living in California.

At that time, she applied for a visa to be able to visit her mom, Aceves recalled, but it was denied to her on more than one occasion. Resigned, she decided to continue her life in Mexico alongside her grandmother. Until that moment, she didn’t know she had a talent for painting; she even chose to study something different from fine arts and leaned towards a degree in fashion design, a profession she practiced for eight years.

When she was in her 30s, Aceves began to have an interest in canvases and paints, although only as a hobby. This interest in art coincided with her return to California, but this time with legal immigration status. Upon her arrival in Los Angeles, the outlook for the artist began to have shadows and lights; in addition to the cultural barrier she faced for being Latina, she also had to work as a housekeeper, which, while not uncomfortable for her, was a task unrelated to the profession she developed in Mexico.

While struggling to pay bills, she continued drawing lines and spreading colors until the moment finally came when she could make that longed-for leap: "In 2018, I decided to dedicate myself completely to painting. I had an ex-partner who supported me, while some contacts in Mexico suggested that I exhibit my work in some galleries."

"At first, my work was presented on two occasions at the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles,” she remembers. “For me, it was a great honor to be able to exhibit my canvases and paintings alongside works by other artists I admired." 

Once she devoted herself to painting, Aceves's routine changed completely to the point of modifying her apartment and turning it into what is now her studio. "For me, art is like a creative job; I must be committed and responsible for what I do. I have developed the habit of waking up early. Every day at 6:30 in the morning, I go out for a walk with my little dog, then I clean my workspace, which I consider quite important because it clears my mind, and inspiration comes more easily," she recounted.

Aceves bases her work mainly on her cultural roots, she said. "For me, it is a way to remember my home, my family and I always try to be honest with myself. Moreover, through my paintings, I portray some of my experiences, and I do everything with a feminine perspective and with the aim of empowering women, since at some stage in our lives we have suffered harassment or gender violence," she expressed.

A demonstration of that sorority was the painting of Commander Ramona, she said, which she presented in San Diego in an exhibition called “Venus” that brought her notoriety: "What I sought was to draw attention to Commander Ramona because little is said about her, even though she has great relevance in the ranks of the Zapatista army," she added.

As part of her artistic influences are Diego Rivera, Saturnino Hernán and the contemporary work of Ilda Palafox, she said, and assured that she is in constant learning mode, for which she attends exhibitions and museums in order to seek new techniques and be able to apply them in her paintings.

Her time with the Lakers

In February, Aceves was recognized by the Los Angeles Lakers, as her works were part of the Band of Vices program, which promoted the Los Angeles Arts District. As a result, she received a check for $10,000 during one of the games held at the Crypto.com Arena.

"I applied for a call for entries. In total, there were 270 applicants, and only 10 of us were chosen, so it was a source of pride to win an award. What I admit is that I'm not a sports fan, so I didn't realize what it meant to be at that moment in one of the most important basketball arenas," she said.

Alongside Aceves that day was Luka Doncic, who was wearing the Lakers uniform for the first time. "A few moments after the ceremony, I started receiving messages and calls from friends and family asking what I was doing in the middle of a game alongside the most famous basketball players," she said. 

To date, Aceves continues to achieve success in her career. She has currently designed the award that will be presented to the winner of the Mexican Consulate’s Pride of the Mexican Month, for which she created a piece based on the national emblem of Mexico. Additionally, the work addresses issues of migration and is composed of neutral themes and warm tones. She also participates in other programs of the L.A. County Department of Arts and Culture.