Centro Cultural Aztlan is proud to present a FOTOSEPTIEMBRE: Cultural Imagination Across Generations
Centro Cultural Aztlan’s upcoming photographic exhibition, presented in conjunction with FotoSeptiembre, offers a powerful meditation on Mexican American life as lived, remembered, and continually reimagined. Rooted in everyday experience, the exhibited works illuminate the intimate textures of Tejano and Chicano communities — moments often overlooked, yet deeply embedded in the cultural imagination across generations. Through images of Quinceañeras, birthdays, religious observances, and quiet scenes of domesticity, the exhibition captures both the extraordinary and the everyday, revealing how cultural values such as family, resilience, cooperation, and continuity are actively lived and sustained.
These photographs function as more than visual documents; they are acts of preservation, affirmation, and storytelling. Collectively, they form an alternative chronicle of Mexican American familial and cultural practices — a lifelong endeavor for many of the photographers represented. As visual historians and cultural workers, these artists construct narratives that challenge historical absence in mainstream representation while expanding the scope of American art. Their work transforms fleeting moments into enduring records, creating a visual archive that complements written histories and ensures the lived experience is neither forgotten nor marginalized.
San Antonio emerges as a central presence throughout the exhibition—a wellspring of memory, identity, and meaning. Viewed through a South Texas lens, the images ground broader cultural themes in specific places, faces, and traditions, reflecting how the community sees itself and wishes to be seen. At the same time, the works foster empathy and cultural understanding, inviting viewers into a dialogue between past and present. Especially for those unfamiliar with these cultural worlds, the exhibition opens a space for recognition and learning.
Ultimately, this exhibition underscores photography’s vital role in shaping cultural memory. These images do not simply record; they speak. They carry forward stories of identity, place, and belonging, contributing to a broader, community-rooted, culturally affirming arts movement. In doing so, they help ensure that Mexican American life is seen, valued, and understood within the evolving narrative of American art.
We are also honoring Al Rendón with the Aguila Azteca Award. Rendón is a San Antonio-born photographer, for his extraordinary contributions to documenting the cultural life of South Texas. Over a distinguished career spanning more than five decades, Rendón has captured the spirit of Mexican American and Tejano communities through powerful images of music, tradition, and everyday life. From his early work photographing rock concerts in the 1970s to his iconic portraits of Selena, conjunto musicians, and charreada participants, his photography reflects both artistic excellence and cultural stewardship. His work, featured in the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery and exhibited internationally, affirms his role as a vital visual historian. The Witte Museum’s retrospective further recognized his enduring impact. Through his lens, Rendón preserves the stories, resilience, and identity of San Antonio, leaving an invaluable legacy for future generations.
Participating Artists: Ricardo Romo (Curator), Al Rendón (Lead Artist), Oscar Castillo, Ruben Chavez, Gloria Cruz, Chris Hernandez, Noe Hernandez, Ramon Hernandez, Victoria Martinez, Enrique Navarette, David Ortega, Joel Salcido, Monica Saldaña, and Kathy Vargas.
Join us for the opening reception on Thursday, September 3, 2026, from 6:00pm to 9:00pm.Join us for light refreshments and live music by Juan and Armando Tejeda and Armando Martinez.
This exhibition is Free and open to the public and will be on view through September 30, 2026.
You can find the Facebook event page here: https://www.facebook.com/share/19CN7VwDcQ/
For more information, please call Centro Cultural Aztlan Monday through Thursday, 10am to 4pm at 210-432-1896 or come by Centro Cultural Aztlan’s office located in the Deco Building at 1800 Fredericksburg Road, Suite 103.
Centro Cultural Aztlan presents San Antonio sisters Manola and Maria Ramirez in “Había Una Vez,” an interactive and immersive art exhibit dedicated to exploring and commemorating the experiences and culture of immigrant families. Inviting the viewer to walk into the story of their art, the exhibit seeks to deepen the understanding of migrant experiences and identity, an essential part of San Antonio’s culture.
Through this exhibition, the artists aim to invoke a sensory experience that draws the viewer into the stories they’re telling, and invites them to respond or participate in the story themselves. Vibrant colors and a bold, illustrative style lend themselves to the complexities of bicultural experiences, and the importance of immigrant identities. This show promises to be a unique and enriching experience that shares a deeper view of the migrant experience through visual storytelling.
Opening reception: Friday, August 7, 2026, from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. Join us for light refreshments and entertainment. This exhibition is Free and open to the public and will be on view through August 27, 2026.
[caption id="attachment_2759" align="alignnone" width="500"]
Photo Courtesy of Manola and Maria Ramirez[/caption]
Photo Courtesy of Manola and Maria Ramirez[/caption]

In celebration of our 49th anniversary, Centro Cultural Aztlan presents El Gran Día de los Artistas on Saturday, July 18, 2026 from 12:00pm to 6:00pm. This free indoor community event features live music, dance, and poetry performances, as well as live art demonstrations, an artisan market showcasing original and unique works by local artists and artisans, and two fine art exhibits in our galleries. Centro Cultural Aztlan was founded in June of 1977, and we invite you to join us in celebrating 49 years of community arts programming in San Antonio.
The event features fun for the whole family, including:
A fabulous Artisan Market with over 30 artists and makers, featuring handmade fine crafts, Art, Jewelry, home decor, clothing and more!

Live painting, demos and a full day or performances from dance, poetry, and music!
and our latest gallery exhibition: Infinity Square with Louis Vega Treviño and Ben Mata.
RSVP on our Facebook page event here: https://www.facebook.com/share/182ZNFFYPp/
We hope that you and your family will join us in celebrating this special milestone for our organization and our community!
For more information, please call Centro Cultural Aztlan Monday through Thursday, 10am to 4pm at 210-432-1896 or come by Centro Cultural Aztlan’s office located in the Deco Building at 1800 Fredericksburg Road, Suite 103.
Centro Cultural Aztlan is proud to present a new exhibition by two of the most important San Antonio Contemporary Artists, Louis Vega Treviño and Ben Mata.
Centro Cultural Aztlan is proud to present a new exhibition by two of the most important San Antonio Contemporary Artists, Louis Vega Treviño and Ben Mata. Color, Balance, Rhythm, and Geometry, all contribute to their work as they try to examine and illustrate the relationships within each form and color as they evolve into an environment of their own. The color relationships, the repetition, the environments they create, all have an undeniable role in activating the senses creating a visual language for the viewer to translate into feelings, emotions and energy.
Join us for the opening reception on Friday, June 5, 2026 from 6:00-9:00pm for light refreshments and live music by Juan and Armando Tejeda.
You can find the Facebook event page here: https://www.facebook.com/share/1E2CekvZc5/
The exhibit is free and open to the public and will be on view through July 18th, 2026.
Viewing hours are Monday-Thursday, 10:00am-4:00pm, except for Holidays.
For more information, please call Centro Cultural Aztlan Monday through Thursday, 10am to 4pm at 210-432-1896 or come by Centro Cultural Aztlan’s office located in the Deco Building at 1800 Fredericksburg Road, Suite 103.
Centro Cultural Aztlan is pleased to present the 16th annual Mujeres de Aztlan exhibition, titled Mujeres de Fuerza/Women of Strength.
Through this annual exhibition that celebrates International Women’s Day, Centro Cultural Aztlan aims to raise the visibility of women artists working to develop their careers and expand their artistic expressions.
The Annual Mujeres de Aztlan exhibition invites women artists to submit their creative work reflecting on personal thematic interests. The intent of this exhibit is to create an artistic space led by women who are employing creative energies and imagination with artistic expressions reflecting unique viewpoints and ways of expression. Artists engage in illuminating the universe in positive ways given the increasing complexities and challenges facing the world today
Participating artists include:
Lead artist: Terry Ybañez
Elizabeth H. Balderas, Lyn Belisle, Maggie Bennett, Kim Bishop, Ruth Buentello, Veronica Castillo Salas, Rita Maria Contreras, Gladys Cosio-Burger, Monica De La Cruz Walker, Alexandria De La Rosa, Celeste DeLuna, Monessa Maria Esquivel, Barbara Felix, Anel Flores, Joan Frederick, Adriana M. Garcia, Angelica Gomez Mayorga, Diana Kersey, Leigh Ann Lester, Jeannette McDougall, Edna Lugo Martinez, Ashley Mireles, Norma Jean Moore, Gricelda Corpus Nill, Ashley Perez, Manola Ramirez, Maria Ramirez, Andrea Rivas, Gloria Sanchez Hart, Ethel Shipton, Anita Valencia, Ann Wallace , Angela Weddle, Liliana Wilson, Loretta Young Medellin, and Guillermina Zabala.
Join us at the opening reception on Friday, March 6, 2026 from 6:00-9:00pm for light refreshments and music by DJ Despeinada. Poetry by San Antonio Poet Laureate Laurie Ann Guerrero, Poet and Educator, Francis Treviño Santos, Poet Victoria Garcia Zapata, and Poet and Educator Andrea Greimel.
The Facebook event page is here: https://www.facebook.com/share/17pR7vGTbP/
The exhibit is free and open to the public and will be on view through April 16, 2026. Viewing hours are Monday-Thursday, 10:00am-4:00pm., except for Holidays.
For more information, please call Centro Cultural Aztlan Monday through Thursday, 10am to 4pm at 210-432-1896 or come by Centro Cultural Aztlan’s office located in the Deco Building at 1800 Fredericksburg Road, Suite 103.
www.centroaztlan.org
Centro Cultural Aztlan is proud to present Two Amazing exhibits in a simultaneous opening reception..
In Galería Expresión, we are featuring El Vuelo de la Monarca by Gricelda Corpus Nill.
Gricelda Corpus-Nill, a longtime contributing artist at Centro Cultural Aztlan, is meticulous and imposing as her sculptures are an inspiration from her extensive travels. The detail of her pieces is extraordinary, as she flawlessly surrounds her very convincing bigger than life renditions of human-like creatures, with an abundance of meticulously formed, glazed and fired details such as flowers, butterflies, shells, branches, environments, and many other details to complete her visual narrative.
In the Alice kleberg Reynolds Gallery, we are featuring Cicatrices: Chronicles in mixed media of the Landscape by Raúl Servín.
Raúl Servín is also a long time contributing artist at Centro Cultural Aztlan and his entire work of is self-defined by its principles in dealing with reality and destiny. In his latests series of landscapes, Servin Analyses the significance of the relationship between humans and mother earth and the resiliency of nature. His expressionist brush stokes not only conveys the beauty, but the struggle and agony of the evident destruction by humans, natural catastrophes and the inclemency of desires of the elements.
Join us at the opening reception on Friday,October 3, 2025, from 6:00-9:00pm for light refreshments and Live music!
The exhibit is free and open to the public and will be on view through October 23. 2025.
Viewing hours are Monday-Thursday, 10:00am-4:00pm, except for Holidays.
You can see our event on Facebook for Gricelda Nill here:
https://www.facebook.com/share/1Ewb4Ypgew/
You can see our event on Facebook for Raul Sevin here:
https://www.facebook.com/share/1C6wJvAvCA/
For more information, please call Centro Cultural Aztlan M-Th. 10am to 4pm at 210-432-1896 or come by Centro Cultural Aztlan’s office located in the Deco Building at 1800 Fredericksburg Road, Suite 103. San Antonio TX, 78201.
Centro Cultural Aztlan presents El Gran Dia de los Artistas!
In celebration of our 48th anniversary, Centro Cultural Aztlan presents El Gran Día de los Artistas on Saturday, July 19, 2025 from 11:00pm to 5:00pm. This free indoor community event features live music, dance, and poetry performances, as well as live art demonstrations, an artisan market showcasing original and unique works by local artists and artisans, and two fine art exhibits in our galleries. Centro Cultural Aztlan was founded in June of 1977, and we invite you to join us in celebrating 48 years of community arts programming in San Antonio.
The event features fun for the whole family, including:
- A fabulous Artisan Market with over 25 artists and makers, featuring handmade fine crafts, Art, Jewelry, home decor, clothing and more!
- Live painting, demos and a full day or performances from dance, poetry, and music!
- And view our latest gallery exhibition:
Centro Cultural Aztlan presents El Gran Dia de los Artistas!
In celebration of our 47th anniversary, Centro Cultural Aztlan presents El Gran Día de los Artistas on Saturday, July 20, 2024 from 12:00pm to 6:00pm. This free indoor community event features live music and poetry performances, an artisan market, and fine art exhibits. Centro Cultural Aztlan was founded in June of 1977, and we invite you to join us in celebrating 47 years of community arts programming in San Antonio.
The event features an indoor Artisan market showcasing original and unique works by local artists and artisans
Live music performance by Gelina,Liza Ybarra,Armando Martinez, Mi México Ballet Folklórico, Mythica Tribal Dance, and more!
Live painting and art demonstrations
Live poetry performances by the Jazz Poets of San Antonio
The event also features our latest dual exhibition:
In Galería Expresión I — Midsummer Solstice: A Celebration of Life, Balance and Renewal, a group exhibition featuring works by:Sergio Angel Ruiz, Richard Arredondo, Rita Maria Contreras, Celeste De Luna, Mónica Estrada-Saldaña, Oscar A. Galván Jr., Noé Garza, Dolores Jarvis, Debi Lively, Armando Martinez, Angelica Mayorga, Angel Moreno, Mauro Murillo, Alexandra Nelipa, Adriana Netro, Denise Pérez, Lenise Pérez-Miller, Kathleen Baker Pittman, Angelina Pliego, Martin Emmanuel Rangel, Raul Servín, Sarah Shore, Anita Valencia, Michael Villanueva, Monica De La Cruz Walker, Robert Wilkens, Liliana Wilson, and Theresa Ybáñez.
In Galería Expresión II — The Project: MASA Cosmic Couture Portrait Collection by Luis Valderas
We hope that you and your family will join us in celebrating this special milestone for our organization and our community!
For more information, please call Centro Cultural Aztlan Monday through Thursday, 10am to 4pm at 210-432-1896 or come by Centro Cultural Aztlan’s office located in the Deco Building at 1800 Fredericksburg Road, Suite 103.
