Celeste De Luna is a self-taught printmaker, artist and activist from the Rio Grande Valley. Her work has been inspired by her personal life and the experiences she’s had on the border, along with the relationship with her husband, an I.C.E agent.
De Luna’s works focus on border issues, feminism, political views, patriotism and the communities within the border.
“People don’t like me using this relationship – no matter how it started – to explore borders because they don’t like me having an independent voice,” De Luna said, referring to her marriage and the relationship with her husband. “It’s this idea like your work isn’t legitimate because of who you’re married to.”
De Luna’s different pieces of art have been on display in the Ben Bailey Art Gallery on campus since Jan. 15 and will continue to be displayed until Feb. 28.
On Friday, she gave a talk to a room filled with students and faculty, during which she fielded questions about her work and discussed her inspiration.
De Luna doesn’t let other people try to deter or undermine her political views, or tell her what she should or shouldn’t do with her art. De Luna’s family is supportive of her border art, and will often model and be characters for her artwork and prints.
She also has a woodwork piece that depicts women with fences on their heads. To her, the piece isn’t a violent act or symbol, but is a representation of borders and women.
“I was trying to talk about women occupying border spaces and not just being violent places for men and cartels…I decided to put the fences on top of women’s heads,” she said.
For TAMUK Professor Roberto J. Vela Cordova the border patrol checkpoints throughout the Valley give “a sense of closure and being surrounded,” and commented on De Luna’s work and the importance of such work.
Art Associate Professor Jesus de la Rosa thinks De Luna’s work is important and beneficial for everyone.
“I think it’s something we should be more conscious about. This work is necessary. We need to hear it in as many different mediums as possible,” he said.