Seso Marentes

Chicano Art

I am a mult- disciplinary artist

who uses my tools to

create stories of my culture.

About Me.

My practice is defined by a commitment to technical
mastery and cultural documentation. As the recipient of
the 2025 Micaela Salinas Artist Fellowship and the 2024
G. David Hurd Innovator in the Arts Award, I focus on
the intersection of lineage and innovation. My recent
apprenticeship with the Oaxacan collective Lapiztola
has further refined my approach to technical relief and
community-centered visual narratives, bridging the gap
between ancestral tradition and modern Chicano
identity.

Iowa Series

Through the use of my material I reveal a whole new
world.

Corn husk is the bridge that forge 2 cultures together,
Midwest Iowa with southern Tex-Mex.

Gallery
work

Lost Chicano Series

Multi-Award
winning artist

Greater Des Moines Juried exhibition

Honorable Mention

“I’m not Mexican, I’m Chicano”

Iowa Series

Civic Leadership &
Cultural
Documentation

Director & Lead Curator | Bienvenidos A Des
Moines / Iowa 2022 – Present Curatorial
Authority: Founded and directed the first
comprehensive juried exhibition series dedicated
to Latinx/a/o and Indigenous artists in Iowa.

Lead Organizer | Emerging Artist Pavilion
Iowa Latino Heritage Festival (2024 – Present)
* Developed and secured a permanent, stabilized
platform specifically for Emerging Latinx/a/o and
Indigenous artists. This pavilion provides a vital
space for underrepresented creators to
showcase their work, build professional
networks, and bridge the gap between traditional
heritage and the modern art market.

Keynote Speaker | Iowa State Youth 4-H
Program (2025) * Delivered the keynote address
for the statewide youth program, focusing on the
intersection of cultural identity, leadership, and
the power of artistic storytelling.

Partner Ally | Latinos in Action (LIA) (2023 –
Present) * Active collaborator and mentor,
facilitating workshops and supporting leadership
development and educational empowerment for
Latino youth throughout the state.

CultureALL Ambassador & Storyteller (2024
– Present) "Chicano Style Prints" and narrative
performance to foster cultural empathy and
education across Iowa’s schools and community
centers.

Co-Founder & Documentarian | Colectivo
Luchart 2021 – Present Archival Rights:
Leading the documentation and preservation of
the visual history of over 150 regional artists.

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Links/videos

Bienvenido A Iowa/Iowa Latino Heritage Festival 2025

Stay in Touch.