Guadalupe Hernandez showcases Con Cariño series in solo exhibition of Houston Endowment’s Jones Artist Awards Program
Photography by: @byjakaylamonay
Local artist Guadalupe Hernandez will showcase his series, Con Cariño, in a solo exhibition of the Jones Artist Awards Program. Created by Houston Endowment, the program recognizes local artists and reflects the many stories and perspectives of Greater Houston’s residents. The installation, composed of 10 pieces, is inspired by the Mexican folk-art tradition Papel Picado, with intricate, hand-chiseled designs on kozo and mulberry paper.
Con Cariño, which translates to “with love” or “with care,” pays homage to Hernandez’s parents, who left their homeland in search of a brighter future for their family. It reflects the powerful connections between generations and relates to a broader narrative of migration, resilience, and family devotion.
Hernandez’s technique requires chisels and punches to drive blades through stacks of paper and mirrors the physicality and repetitive nature of his parents’ work. Each design includes images that echo a memory or sentiment about his family. Icons representative of Hernandez’s father include a shovel, trowel, bag of mesquite wood, and cucumbers in honor of his father’s work in construction.
Hernandez’s mother is represented in pieces such as Momentos con mi Madre. Here, the image of Dawn dish soap reflects the time Hernandez and his mom worked at the same Italian restaurant, while he waited tables, and she worked in the kitchen. Other icons include laundry detergent, Chinese food takeout container, and tomatoes.
“We established the Jones Artist Awards Program in 2023 to amplify opportunities for local artists and lift up stories that are unique and reflective of our immensely diverse community,” said Ann B. Stern, president and CEO of Houston Endowment. “Artists like Guadalupe Hernandez play a profound role in our community. It’s through their work that we can understand perspectives different than our own and gain insight into the lives of our fellow residents.”
Con Cariño will be on display at Houston Endowment’s private headquarters through mid-fall. Works featured in the exhibit include:
- Con Cariño, hand-punched mulberry paper, 72” x 72”, 2023 (1 of 2)
- Con Cariño, hand-punched mulberry paper, 72” x 72”, 2023 (2 of 2)
- Cosechas de esperanza, hand-punched kozo paper, 37” x 25”, 2023
- Frutos del trabajo, hand-punched kozo paper, 37” x 25”, 2023
- Forjando nuestro futuro, hand-punched kozo paper, 37” x 25”, 2023
- Un arrocito y sopita para la casa, hand-punched kozo paper, 37” x 25”, 2023
- Hasta que el cuerpo aguante, hand-punched kozo paper, 37” x 25”, 2023
- A quien madruga, Dios lo ayuda, hand-punched kozo paper, 37” x 25”, 2023
- Forjando su legado, hand-punched kozo paper, 37” x 25”, 2023
- Momentos con mi Madre, hand-punched kozo paper, 37” x 25”, 2023
Hernandez joins eight other Houston artists as a 2024 Jones Artist Award recipient and is the only to be featured in a solo exhibition. Krista Leigh Steinke, Tiffany Heng-Hui Lee, Venessa Monokian, and Christopher Blay showcased their work in Nature’s Imprints, a group show in spring 2024. Kim Le, Kaima Akarue, Jean Shon, and Stanley Bermudez will be featured in Traces of Being later this year.
Hernandez has spent the last several years actively involved in the Houston arts scene. Since 2021, he has held residencies at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Asia Society Center of Texas, and Project Row Houses as well as exhibited his work throughout Houston in galleries, office spaces, the Contemporary Arts Museum of Houston, and more. He has also taught at Bellaire High School.
The public is can view images of the series here. Media photos of Con Cariño are available here. Please credit Jakayla Monay (@ByJakaylaMonay) courtesy of Weingarten Art Group (@weingartenartgroup) and Houston Endowment (@HoustonEndowment).
Houston Endowment has a long-standing commitment to the arts, beginning with its founding by Jesse H. and Mary Gibbs Jones in 1937. The Joneses recognized the significant value arts and culture provided to the community and envisioned the world-class arts that exist in Houston today. Today, the Foundation takes a comprehensive approach and seeks to identify opportunities to support creators and creative organizations.
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Houston Endowment is a private foundation established in 1937 by Jesse H. Jones and his wife, Mary Gibbs Jones, to improve the quality of life for everyone in Greater Houston. Today, it has more than $2 billion in assets and invests about $100 million a year in three priorities: strengthen public education, increase civic engagement, and enhance the region’s arts and parks. Working with fellow Houstonians, Houston Endowment pursues bold goals, builds partnerships, and invests in innovative solutions rooted in equity and evidence to create a vibrant region where all have the opportunity to thrive.