Gypsy Rose Piñata (2017) by Justin Favela. Made of found objects, cardboard, styrofoam, cardboard, and glue, the installation was part of the Petersen Automotive Museum’s exhibit, The High Art of Riding Low: Ranflas, Corazón e Inspriación. Photo courtesy of the Petersen Automotive Museum (credit)

“At first glance, Justin Favela’s large-scale installations are joyous and exuberant. Each one is formed from hundreds of pieces of cut paper, transforming life-size sculptures and murals of lowriders, desert landscapes, and recreations of well-known artworks into what look like colossal piñatas. But beyond the festive paper fringe, Favela tells a different story, one that explores cultural appropriation and exploitation, and what it means to have one’s heritage reduced to a party decoration. In doing so, he is making space in museums and galleries for the complicated story of what it means to be Latinx in the United States, and carving out his own unique place in art history. With support from the Arts Endowment, his show Saludos Amigos opens on October 4th at the Capital City Arts Initiative in Carson City, Nevada, and depicts imagery from animated films set in Latin America, such as Coco (2017), The Three Caballeros (1944), and Saludos Amigos (1942). Based in Las Vegas, Favela recently spoke with us by phone about his upcoming show, his creative practice, and why having joyful work in museums can feel like a radical act. ” (credit)