
Susan Kelk Cervantes, muralist and dedicated artist for 57 years, a pioneer of the SF community mural art movement, and the founder and director of the Precita Eyes Muralists in the Mission District of San Francisco. Established in 1977, Precita Eyes is one of only a handful of community mural arts centers in the United States.
Influenced by the Mujeres Muralistas, the first collaborative group of women muralists, Cervantes has applied the same process of accessible, community art to any size mural or age group through community mural workshops.
Cervantes is responsible for over 400 murals (including the murals on the Women's Building) considered some of the finest in the country.
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Bio PDF
Influenced by the Mujeres Muralistas, the first collaborative group of women muralists, Cervantes has applied the same process of accessible, community art to any size mural or age group through community mural workshops.
Cervantes is responsible for over 400 murals (including the murals on the Women's Building) considered some of the finest in the country.
Resume PDF
Bio PDF
Professional Objectives:
To develop and pursue my vision designing and painting public community murals, painted tile, mosaic and mixed-media installations with life affirming themes and continue sharing my knowledge and skills in the collaborative process. Education:
San Francisco Art Institute, California B.F.A., 1965 M.F.A., 1968 |
Community Mural Arts Educator:
Artistic Founding Director, Precita Eyes Muralists Assoc., Inc., Precita Eyes Mural Arts Center, San Francisco, a non-profit community arts org., 1977-present. Northeastern University, Boston 2016; University of San Francisco, 2013, San Francisco Art Institute 2010; China National Children’s Center, Beijing, China 2007,2009; , California College of Arts 2004, Friendship Art School, St. Petersburg, Russia 2003; State University Hayward, 2000; New College of California Arts and Social Change Program, SF, 1993; Balboa High School, S.F., 1995; Mission High School, S.F., 1996; Cleveland Elementary School, S.F., 1993 -1995; Buena Vista School, SF, 1991. Wallenberg Alternative High School, SF, 1990, CETA Arts Program/Precita Valley Community Center; SF Arts Commission, 1975-79. and others.
Artistic Founding Director, Precita Eyes Muralists Assoc., Inc., Precita Eyes Mural Arts Center, San Francisco, a non-profit community arts org., 1977-present. Northeastern University, Boston 2016; University of San Francisco, 2013, San Francisco Art Institute 2010; China National Children’s Center, Beijing, China 2007,2009; , California College of Arts 2004, Friendship Art School, St. Petersburg, Russia 2003; State University Hayward, 2000; New College of California Arts and Social Change Program, SF, 1993; Balboa High School, S.F., 1995; Mission High School, S.F., 1996; Cleveland Elementary School, S.F., 1993 -1995; Buena Vista School, SF, 1991. Wallenberg Alternative High School, SF, 1990, CETA Arts Program/Precita Valley Community Center; SF Arts Commission, 1975-79. and others.
Grants & Awards: SF Latino Legacy Award 2017. SF Symphony Ellen Magnin Newman Award 2017; American Institute of Architecture 2016; SF Arts Commission Individual Artist Commission Award, 2015; Loco Bloco Community Leader Award Mover and Shaker 2012; SF Arts Commission Individual Artists Grant Award, 2003, Local Hero Latino Arts KQED 2002. National Endowment for the Arts, 1999-2000. California Alliance for Arts Education Award, 1999; Artslink Grant for collaboration with Russian artists, Moscow, 1997; Creative Work Fund, 1996. WESTAF(Western States Arts Federation Grant), 1994; Lef Foundation, Zellerbach Family Fund, Ronald McDonald Charities, Nu Lambda Trust, 1993-94; Columbia Foundation, Bank of America PG&E. Grants, 1990; Mayor’s Office of Community Development Award in recognition for outstanding contribution to mural art in San Francisco1986-1992, San Francisco Mayor’s Community Development Block Grants, 1976, 1981, 1990; Oakland City Council Cultural Development Award, 1982; Visual Artist Fellowship Grant/ National Endowment of the Arts, 1980; Artist-In-Residence Grant/California Arts Council, 1979-80;
Mural Arts Lecturer:
Mural Routes, Toronto, Canada 2015; Mural Foorum, Stockholm, Sweden, 2014, Pecha Kucha, Artspad SF, 2012; Revolution Book Store, Berkeley, CA 2012, Pecha Kucha, Estriia Foundation, 2011, .DeAnza College, 2006; “Mayfair Community Mural Conference; Mexican Heritage Plaza, San Jose, mural workshop, April 2001; Art and Architecture AIA San Francisco, 2000. College of Notre Dame, Belmont, 1993-2001. S.F.Museum of Modern Art, 1996. , University of San Diego, 1996. . S.F. State University, 1996; “Utopia Dystopiathe Third Annual Conference on Feminine Activism and Art, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, SF, panel discussion, April 1995. Dominican College, San Rafael, 1993; Pescadero High School, Pescadero Beach, 1993. De Anza College, Cupertino, 1992. Raoul Wallenburg High School and World College West, SF, 1989. U.S. Postal Service, Main Branch, SF. Mission Branch Public Library, SF, 1988.George Washington High School, SF and Golden Gate National Park Headquarters, Ft. Mason, SF, 1986. SF Museum of Modern Art, 1979. Urban Skills Center, SF, 1983. University of California Berkeley, 1980; Las Americas Childrens Center, SF, 1982; University of Southern California 1976. S.F. Art Institute 1975, 1988, 1990.
Exhibitions Invited (66):
SPARC, Los Ange;es. CA “She Rises UP”, 2019; Bay Area Mural Festival exhibition, 2018, When She Rises exhibition, SPARC, LA, CA, 2018, Adobe Gallery: Three Generations of Mural Art, 2013; “Rehistoricizing”, Luggage Store, SF. 2010; . Euphrat Gallery,. De Anza College, 2000; Manos de Diosa Balazo Gallery & Mission Badlands, 1997; Nanny Goat Hill Redux, SOMAR Gallery, SF, 1997;Galeria Museo, Mission Cultural Center, SF, 1995; SF Muralists, “Lumieres de Californie: 20 Artistes Autour de San Francisco; Centre d’animation et de Loisirs Valeyre, Paris, France, 1993; The Fourth R, Euphrates Gallery, Cupertino, 1992; Pushkin Skaya La Pena, Berkeley, 1986; ; Gallery, Leningrad, USSR, 1990; All for One Earth, SOMAR Gallery, SF, 1990; Beef Gallery, SF, 1987; Harvest, The Farm, SF, 1985; Balmy Alley Murals, Casa Gallery, SF, 1984; Cervantes Family Show, Galeria Museo, Mission Cultural Center, SF, 1980; Oakland Museum, State Dept. Fourth Triennale India, Asia, Mideast, Japan, 1978-79; Galeria De La Raza, SF, 1978 & 1988; Nanny Goat Hill Gallery, SF, 1977; Civic Arts Gallery, Walnut Creek, 1976; Ringling Museum, Sarasota, Florida, 1974; SF Arts Commission Capricorn Asunder Gallery, 1973; SF Art Institute 1971;
Major Publications Represented:
“Maestrapeace: SF Monumental Feminist Mural”, 2019, Published by Heyday Books. “Mission”, 2017; SF Street Art: Mission Muralismo, 2010; Painting the Towns, by Robin Dunitz and Jim Prigoff., 1998. San Francisco Murals, by Tim Dresher, 1991, 1994, 1996; The Fourth R: Arts and the Needs of Children, 1992; Yesterday and Tomorrow: California Women Artists, 1989; ; Community Murals Magazine, 1985, 1987; And Still It Moves, by Marron and Babelaar, 1984, 1986; Community Murals: A Peoples Art, by Alan Barnett, 1984; American Women Artists, by Rubenstien, 1982; Pacific Magazine by Judy Vasos, 1980; California Murals, by Clark, Hama, Gorden, 1979; Toward a Peoples Art: The Contemporary Mural Movement, by Eva Cockcroft, 1977;
Mural Arts Lecturer:
Mural Routes, Toronto, Canada 2015; Mural Foorum, Stockholm, Sweden, 2014, Pecha Kucha, Artspad SF, 2012; Revolution Book Store, Berkeley, CA 2012, Pecha Kucha, Estriia Foundation, 2011, .DeAnza College, 2006; “Mayfair Community Mural Conference; Mexican Heritage Plaza, San Jose, mural workshop, April 2001; Art and Architecture AIA San Francisco, 2000. College of Notre Dame, Belmont, 1993-2001. S.F.Museum of Modern Art, 1996. , University of San Diego, 1996. . S.F. State University, 1996; “Utopia Dystopiathe Third Annual Conference on Feminine Activism and Art, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, SF, panel discussion, April 1995. Dominican College, San Rafael, 1993; Pescadero High School, Pescadero Beach, 1993. De Anza College, Cupertino, 1992. Raoul Wallenburg High School and World College West, SF, 1989. U.S. Postal Service, Main Branch, SF. Mission Branch Public Library, SF, 1988.George Washington High School, SF and Golden Gate National Park Headquarters, Ft. Mason, SF, 1986. SF Museum of Modern Art, 1979. Urban Skills Center, SF, 1983. University of California Berkeley, 1980; Las Americas Childrens Center, SF, 1982; University of Southern California 1976. S.F. Art Institute 1975, 1988, 1990.
Exhibitions Invited (66):
SPARC, Los Ange;es. CA “She Rises UP”, 2019; Bay Area Mural Festival exhibition, 2018, When She Rises exhibition, SPARC, LA, CA, 2018, Adobe Gallery: Three Generations of Mural Art, 2013; “Rehistoricizing”, Luggage Store, SF. 2010; . Euphrat Gallery,. De Anza College, 2000; Manos de Diosa Balazo Gallery & Mission Badlands, 1997; Nanny Goat Hill Redux, SOMAR Gallery, SF, 1997;Galeria Museo, Mission Cultural Center, SF, 1995; SF Muralists, “Lumieres de Californie: 20 Artistes Autour de San Francisco; Centre d’animation et de Loisirs Valeyre, Paris, France, 1993; The Fourth R, Euphrates Gallery, Cupertino, 1992; Pushkin Skaya La Pena, Berkeley, 1986; ; Gallery, Leningrad, USSR, 1990; All for One Earth, SOMAR Gallery, SF, 1990; Beef Gallery, SF, 1987; Harvest, The Farm, SF, 1985; Balmy Alley Murals, Casa Gallery, SF, 1984; Cervantes Family Show, Galeria Museo, Mission Cultural Center, SF, 1980; Oakland Museum, State Dept. Fourth Triennale India, Asia, Mideast, Japan, 1978-79; Galeria De La Raza, SF, 1978 & 1988; Nanny Goat Hill Gallery, SF, 1977; Civic Arts Gallery, Walnut Creek, 1976; Ringling Museum, Sarasota, Florida, 1974; SF Arts Commission Capricorn Asunder Gallery, 1973; SF Art Institute 1971;
Major Publications Represented:
“Maestrapeace: SF Monumental Feminist Mural”, 2019, Published by Heyday Books. “Mission”, 2017; SF Street Art: Mission Muralismo, 2010; Painting the Towns, by Robin Dunitz and Jim Prigoff., 1998. San Francisco Murals, by Tim Dresher, 1991, 1994, 1996; The Fourth R: Arts and the Needs of Children, 1992; Yesterday and Tomorrow: California Women Artists, 1989; ; Community Murals Magazine, 1985, 1987; And Still It Moves, by Marron and Babelaar, 1984, 1986; Community Murals: A Peoples Art, by Alan Barnett, 1984; American Women Artists, by Rubenstien, 1982; Pacific Magazine by Judy Vasos, 1980; California Murals, by Clark, Hama, Gorden, 1979; Toward a Peoples Art: The Contemporary Mural Movement, by Eva Cockcroft, 1977;