Carmen Lomas Garza '72 is a famed Mexican-American artist and illustrator who is well known for her paintings, ofrendas, papel picado and children’s books. Lomas Garza’s works are part of permanent collections at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the National Museum of Mexican Art, the San Jose Museum of Art, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and many others. Lomas Garza earned her bachelor’s degree in arts education from Texas A&I University and later went on to earn a master’s in education at Juarez-Lincoln/Antioch Graduate School and a master’s in art from San Francisco State University.

 

Originally from Kingsville, TX her Mexican-American heritage and family influences led to per pursuit of art while attending Texas Arts & Industry University where her interest in art education also flourished. It was during this time and through her own teaching experiences that led her desire to create works of art that would be understood by all ages. Lomas Garza solidified her purpose in using art to celebrate the culture, music, dress, language – everything – that focused on the Mexican American culture. Much of her work comes from the unearthing of shared memories and traditions of her culture. The impact of her children’s bilingual books became so substantial that a school in East Los Angeles named their school the Carmen Lomas Garza Primary Center in her honor.

 

Click on the names below of the honorees to read their respective bio:

 

David Allex '58

Donna Shaver '84

Jose Luis Cortez '60, '61

Angelica Barrera '00, '01

Roberto Montoya '70

 

Robery Ray Molina, Jr. '17