Brief Bio:
Prior to receiving my MFA Degree from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in 2005, I was recruited to assist in the formation of a contemporary art gallery entitled MB Modern in New York City which operated or six years before relocating its business to Houston, TX. Staying to pursue a career in the studio arts, I then worked at Babcock Galleries (now Driscoll/Babcock Galleries) for four years, which at the time had celebrated its 150th year as a leader in American Modernism and had the distinct privilege of being recognized as the oldest gallery in New York City at the time. Both experiences fostered a strong appreciation for historical and contemporary art. Concurrently, I attended private classes with instructors who continued to teach traditional painting and drawing processes which strengthened my studio practices. In 2006, I was recruited by the City of Corpus Christi to serve in the Department of Public Art and shortly thereafter, assumed the role of Gallery Director at TAMU-CC. Currently I am Associate Professor of Art where I continue to teach traditional methods of painting while also encouraging exploration and experimentation in the studios.
My work has been featured in two compendium’s: Chicanitas: Small Paintings from the Cheech Marin Collection and Los Tejanos: Chicano Art from the Collection of Cheech Marin; as well as noted in numerous publications including Guitar Aficionado, The Los Angeles Times, Artillery Magazine, Texas Monthly, The Austin American Statesman, ArtScope New England, and Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education.
Selected collections include the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and Culture, Riverside, CA; AltaMed Foundation, Los Angeles, CA; The Chaney Foundation, Houston, TX; James Hutson, Los Angeles, CA; The Sondra Gillman and Celso Gonzalez- Falla Collection, New York, NY, The Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park and Museum, Hamilton, OH; La Universidad de Oaxaca, Oaxaca City, Mexico; and the Art Museum of South Texas, Corpus Christi, TX.
Below is an abbreviated version of my CV, but you can also download the full document here. Thank you.
Joe Peña: Selected CV
Professor of Art
Texas A&M University -Corpus Christ Email: Joe.Pena@tamucc.edu
3600 Ocean Drive, Unit 5721 Website: joepenastudio.org
Corpus Christi, TX 78412
EDUCATION
2005 MFA, Texas A&M University- Corpus Christi
1993 BFA, Corpus Christi State University, Corpus Christi, TX
PROFESSIONAL POSITION:
Professor of Art, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX.
SELECTED RECENT PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS:
2024 The Cheech Advisory Committee. Appointed member of the Inaugural Advisory Committee for The Cheech Marin Center of Chicano Art & Culture of the Riverside Art Museum. Riverside, CA.
SELECTED RECENT INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS:
2024 ART In Embassies: Bucharest, Hungary. Sponsored by the US Department of State.
https://art.state.gov/personnel/joe_pena/
SELECTED RECENT SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024 Joe Peña: Nightscapes and Other Visions, Nave Museum, Houston, TX.
2022 Joe Peña: Nocturnal Musings, Redbud Gallery, Houston, TX.
2021 Joe Peña: Nightscapes, Victoria College, Victoria, TX
SELECTED RECENT GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024 Soy de Tejas: A Statewide Survey of Latinx Art, Arts Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX.
Rothko Chapel: INSPIRIT 2024 Benefit Art Auction, McClain Gallery, Houston, TX
2023 Son de Allá y Son de Acá, Chicano Park Museum, San Diego, CA.
Soy de Tejas: A Statewide Survey of Latinx Art, Centro de Artes, San Antonio, TX
2022 The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and Culture, Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, CA. (Inaugural Exhibition)
SELECTED PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
The AltaMed Foundation, Los Angeles, CA.
The Chaney Foundation, Houston, TX.
Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture, Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, CA.
The Sondra Gillman and Celso Gonzalez- Falla Collection
James Hutson Collection, Los Angeles, CA.
La Universidad de Oaxaca, Oaxaca City, Mex.
Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum, Hamilton, OH