Patssi Valdez: Art Innovator

Chicana Patssi Valdez has been redefining and challenging art standards to include Chicano and Chicana artists since the 1970's.

Patssi Valdez is an east L.A. based artist who got her start during her late teen years.

Valdez was one of the main members of the art collective known as ASCO, an east L.A. based young group of artists that struggled with the harsh reality of being a Chicana or Chicano in the United States.  ASCO's original members include  Harry Gamboa Jr, Gronk, and Willie Herron. This particular group of young people were repulsed by their surroundings, the poverty that seemed to engulf their people and themselves, and the lack of opportunities for young Chicano artists during the 1970's and 1980's.

During the 1970's many young people protested the Vietnam War, not only for the brutality of the war, but also the draft that forced (mostly) young men to enlist, many of whom did not return alive.

Valdez was in particularly interesting position during her early years as an artist challenging the realities around her, because of her gender.  The Chicano Movement of the late 1960's - 1970's was successful in raising awareness about the "oppression and exploitation of and racism against the Chicano people" (Watts P. 306).  However, "one of the key failings of ... [the] early Chicano Movement itself was its denial of the equal importance of the women within the revolution" (Watts P. 307).

Valdez, as a core member ASCO, had a unique opportunity to expose the potential of Chicana art and tackle issues pertaining to Chicanas.  Valdez was the only female member of the art collective ASCO and through her interpretations was able to challenge and revolutionize the way women were seen. Valdez was not shy in exploring alternative interpretations of popular female icons, like the Virgin de Guadalupe, patron saint of Mexico.  She openly challenged the roles women played in family, society, and even in religion at a time when women's contributions were being ignored and the Chicano Movement and Chicano art was largely male produced. Valdez not only spoke out against racism, discrimination, and injustice, but also confronted sexism.

(Day of the Dead. THE WALKING MURAL.Patssi dressed as the Virgin)