J. Leigh Garcia

Place: Dallas

Born: 1960

Biography:

As a biracial Latina, J. Leigh Garcia is a seventh-generation Texan of European descent on her mom’s side and granddaughter of Mexican immigrants on her dad’s. She has followed the roots of her own ancestry to shape her artistic practice. Major events in Texas history such as the Mexican-American War, Battle of the Alamo, Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, and Bracero Program have created a complex relationship between her two cultures: white Texans and mestizo Mexicans. Products of these historical events—particularly undocumented immigration and the racialization of Mexicans—are both the context and focus of her work. Using printmaking, papermaking, and sculpture, Garcia explores her biracial identity and familial history while highlighting aspects of racial and generational privilege/oppression. She received her MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and BFA from the University of North Texas. Her work is included in over 15 permanent collections including the Cleveland Museum of Art, Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, National Museum of Mexican Art, Mexic-Arte Museum, Zuckerman Museum of Art, and Ulrich Museum of Art.