James Saldivar Bio
1979 Born in San Antonio, TX, raised in Houston, TX
1995 San Antonio , TX begins to search for his voice in art.
Graffiti and abstractions take form
1998 Begins studio painting
2002-06 Travels to New Orleans ( Paints in Jackson Square) (N.O.,LA)
2006 2nd Sight Studio Opens (S.A,TX)
2007 Curator for C.A.L.O. (Contemporary Art and Literature Organization
2009-14 Teaches art, The San Antonio School for Inquiry and Creativity
2018 Opens NMDK Studio
2018 Opens Gaslyght Modern
James Saldivar has worked as Curator and board member for C.A.L.O.’s (Contemporary Art and Literature Organization) Una Noche de La Gloria. He has taught at the The San Antonio School for Inquiry Creativity for four years as the High School Arts Director for the San antonio School for Inquiry and Creativity a arts based charter school where every subject and class was taught through art. James taught not only his student but the rest of the teachers on how to teach their classes through art with various projects and working with them side by side infusing both classes to gain the best possible results from the students. Saldivar now teaches out of his studio .
James was born in San Antonio, and moved to Houston, TX as a child where he was raised. He lived in Houston for 12 years before moving back to San Antonio where he has lived and worked to present time. His paintings consist mostly of abstracts with a strong language of color and the dialogue of how it creates, changes, and moves mood. “Color and the emotion are what intrigues him most of all, the conversations they have and how one without the other just doesn’t seem make sense.”
Since the 1990’s his work has involved the juxtaposition of color. The works since then have gone from graffiti, and abstracts to conceptual works, figuration, and back to conceptual abstraction. What he’s working on now has a touch of his philosophy on life. It’s representational ( in a metaphysical sense), conceptual, and abstract all wrapped
up .His body of work, the "Organics" is a touch back to the beginning days in his studio. Over the years and being away from them they seemed to have evolved . The contemplation on research he’s done on the chemicals he uses to create his wet on wet fluid technique he needs for his paint to flow, have definitely grown and become more minimal.
He moved away from them in 2010 to focus on his “Drips”. Each painting in this series has a strong, moving, and very emotional backdrop. His reason for painting and the need to speak his mind through them left him at a very vulnerable position which could be taken advantage of, and did at times, yet this only proves to feed his work with more experience and wisdom to continue on his journey through life and his work as the universe sees fit. Saldivar's techniques the " Organics” and the "Drips" are both representing how we as humans have the need/ want to control our lives and as much as they can. The universe is going to do what its going to do no matter what we want as humans. At times it may seem as if we have control but don’t be mistaken, it’s just a falsity and merely coincidence.
In 2017,James finds his way back to the "Organics" as they have proved to evolve in their absence.
jamessaldivar.com
James Saldivar
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Professional Experience |
- 2nd Sight Studio Owner 2007-'17 - Murals - Painting/ Figurative, Abstract, Mixed Media - Drawing/ Charcoal, Pastel, Colored and Graphite Pencil, Markers - Art Instructor, The San Antonio School for Inquiry and - Steering Committee Member - Una Noche de la Gloria
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Exhibitions
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Individual Shows 2025 "TRICHROMATICA Et Hus Gallery, S.A.,TX
Group Shows
2025 "The Alchemy of Color" Hausmann Millworks, S.A.,TX 2009-11 “Una Noche de la Gloria’ Historic Guadalupe Arts District, S.A.,TX 2009 “Black, Red,and White” High Wire Arts, S.A., TX 2008-11 “On and Off Freds. Rd Bihl Haus Arts,, S.A.,T X 2007 “Visiones de Virgin 2007 “Culture Vulture “ Mandala Art Gallery. S.A.,TX 2007 “Huevos Ranchero”s Gala Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, S.A.,TX 2007 New works Circle Infiniti Art Space, S.A.,TX 2007 S.M.A.R.T Fest One9Zero6 Art Gallery, S.A.,TX
Curatorial shows 2017 "Alien Inside" - Taylor Bosworth Gaslyght Modern
Collaborative/ Assisted Murals
2008 Assisted with Community Mural Project / Mannhcke Park Neighborhood Association in conjunction with the Witte Museum and the Office of Cultural Affairs, S.A.,TX 2007 Assisted with “Brighter Days” Community Mural Project/ 2007 Assisted with 30th Anniversary Community Mural Project, Presa 1997 Bumper Outlet “Wall of Fame” Mural Project, S.A.,TX
Independent Murals 2018 Essex Modern City, S.A.,TX 1998 Street Fashions Retail Space, San Antonio, Texas 1997 Sepios Ice House, San Antonio, Texas 1997 La Popular Bakery, San Antonio, Texas
https://glasstire.com/2013/06/15/james-saldivar-spaces-in-between-at-silkworm-gallery-and-studio/ On and Off Freds. Rd Tour Catalogue, 2008-13 http://www.onandofffred.org/Saldivar.html
The Current http://www.sacurrent.com/arts/story.asp?id=71928
San Antonio Express News http://www.mysanantonio.com/entertainment/Art_in_church_Its_not_what_you_might_think.html?showFullArticle=y
Interviews
Great Day SA 1.14.10 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFTGpnS3JbI
Latin Fusion TV 10.10.09 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpL6Hl0YiQw
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