From watching his father shrouded in the darkness of his photo lab in Mexico City to the lively and fast paced folklórico routines of his older sister, Josué Baltézar has always had art in his life.
As soon as he could read and write, nearly every homework assignment he turned in was personalized with a series of doodles and drawings.
As an active and “travieso” kid, it wasn’t just the playground that captivated him but any chance he could get to be around art.
Starting with the art lessons he would get once a year, to the mural he discovered left on a campus wall as a third grader.
“I was like man, that would be so cool to paint on a wall and get to do this,” Baltézar said.
The 33-year-old artist now dabbles in a bit of everything. Creating colorful prints, vibrant comic-style illustrations and making murals all over San Diego.
Through Art Reach, a nonprofit that collaborates with schools and community centers to create murals, Baltézar has created six different murals.
In 2023, he got the chance to make a mural at the first elementary school he came to when he moved to the United States at six years old.
In a full circle moment, he taught sixth graders how to create murals and made a design honoring the diversity and legacy of the school.
“Having Chula Vista become my hometown, one of those first doors was Rosebank, Baltézar said.
Credits:
Created with an image by jamenpercy - "Messy art studio pencils and scribble"