Dewey Tafoya
Untitled (diptych), 2019
Serigraph, ed. 60
15”x11” - each

From the Utopia/Dystopia Portfolio Project

Individual print: $250
Pair of prints: $400

Dewey Tafoya’s Utopian Jack of Spades piece was created in part of the “Utopia/Dystopia” portfolio, curated by artist Miyo Stevens-Gandara. Miyo invited 26 artists to each pick two cards from a full deck, incorporating a diverse range of interpretations and ideas into a single, unified collection.

Tafoya verbally places the reality of colonization as a central struggle in personal and community resistance, and implicates present-day immigration policies, carried out through ICE, as a force of colonization in the present. In his utopian print, the phrase “Nunca Colonizadx,” along with the Olmec heads iconography, signifies a world in which colonization never occurred. These prints draw upon imagery of ancient cultures and emphasizes their influence on Chicanx cultures and movements.

Born in Boyle Heights, Tafoya centers his work around the urban landscapes of Los Angeles, its culture, and communities. Referring to historical conditions and occurrences, he  employs satirical humor in his work to construct a new vision and perception of the past from the perspective of the marginalized. He aims to reflect on the past and envision how it can be rediscovered and redefined in the present and future. 

Fulfilling the role as teaching artist at Self Help Graphics, he has been an active participant in the Día de los Muertos Community Art Workshops for the past decade. He is also heavily involved with other programs offered by SHG by teaching a monthly DIY screen printing workshop, in addition to contributing to the Barrio Mobile Art Studio workshops. His community participation further extends beyond the walls of SHG, especially through his partnership with local youth and teens in offering instruction in screen printing and design.