Recuerdos | Exhibit by John Galan

ON VIEW  |  February 20 – March 31, 2023 Recuerdos, or memories, is an invitation to look back at one’s life journey and reflect on the struggles & triumphs of the human experience. Galan’s artwork dives into the subconscious, pulling at the many layers of what makes us human. He creates art that represents the contemporary Chicanx diaspora and draws from his own experiences growing up Mexican-American confronting generational stigmas. John Galan is an emerging artist, educator, and internationally exhibited artist residing in Conejo Valley. He is also an alum of California Lutheran University, and his work emphasizes the inseparable relationship between humankind and the natural world. In his ongoing series, Galan portrays memories through cultural traditions rooted in indigenous ritualism and healing practices. The pieces illustrate the body’s connection to mental health and its ability to heal through natural remedies passed down by the artist’s ancestors. Galan combines universal archetypes of the lungs, brain, and heart with symbolic imagery from contemporary Chicanx culture and cuisine. This work is a reframing of Neo-Chicano art, and by creating this exchange between what is current and the past, he aims to challenge multi-cultural traditions and promote healing of the mind, body, and ... Read More