Hencho En Dallas

“Y Este Güey Qué”:
Jesus Trujilo on UTA voices in Hecho En Dallas

This autumn, the Latino Cultural Center presented the 17th Annual Hecho en Dallas (September 20 - October 24, 2025). Featuring fifty-four artists working across diverse media and ideas, the exhibition celebrates the vitality of North Texas's contemporary art scene - including five distinguished alumni of the University of Texas at Arlington.

Artist Jesús Trujillo reflects on the experience of exhibiting alongside fellow UTA alums Grace Wilkinson, Francisco J. Marquez, Tyson Shepherd, and Janet Vidales:
“Being part of Hecho En Dallas at the Latino Cultural Center has been one of the most exciting exhibitions that I've participated this year. It was heartwarming to see familiar faces included in the exhibition as a proud UTA alum.”

Upon entering the gallery, visitors encounter Tyson Shepherd's I'm Not Talking Today - a painting whose cartoon-like visual language and highly rendered subjects carry a sense of childlike wonder and charm. His work is grounded by deliberate, painterly marks that show intent and thoughtfulness in his painting process. Nearby, Grace Wilkinson's painting Catch and Release pulses with vibrant colors and a punk rock meets girly pop aesthetic. She presents herself as bold and unapologetic - using words, objects and marks to create a visual diary of her state of mind.

At the center of the space, mounted along the side wall you'll see my piece, Más Pendejo. Painted in this intense red, the inorganic form bends and curves, physically expressing my own frustration with being Mexican American. The phrase “Y Este Güey Qué” is used to help emphasize that inner struggle and cultural disconnect.

In the adjoining gallery, visitors are greeted by Francisco Marquez's piece, Ahí Viene - an artwork that tells only half of the story. Rooted in childhood memories from Mexico, this drawing explores the fear of a looming figure of a shadowy dog in the distance, setting a tone of uneasiness and vulnerability. The ceramic sculpture series Sundawn Dancers by Janet Vidales in the center of this space showcases the idea that humans, like nature, are created in diverse and beautiful ways. Represented in the form of mushrooms with stalks looking like female bodies, these sculptures highlight natural beauty. The work encourages self-love and the acceptance of oneself.
“Once, we were just classmates working in the same studios and sharing critiques on a monthly basis. Now, we stand side by side as full-fledged artists. It's been an incredible honor to watch these individuals develop their artistic skills and confidence to present their own voices within the art world. I am grateful to not only be their peer, but to call them my friends.”
Jesús Trujillo