The Mi Huella Project and Exhibition (My Imprint), is an artist showcase highlighting the impact of Latinx artists in Nashville. Mi Huella celebrates the work of 4 Latinx visual artists from different backgrounds and experiences. Through their diverse works, the artists Alvaro Hernandez, Cesar Pita, Izamar Rodriguez and Yanira Vissepo present a wide variety of styles and voices. Each brings their unique experience to their work, helping tell the story of the impact that the Latinx community and artists have had on Nashville. 

Alvaro, Cesar, Izamar and Yanira are making their mark on Nashville. As you view their incredible art and stories through the Mi Huella Exhibition, we invite you to reflect on what has left a mark on your journey….

This exhibition is a project of Conexión Américas and is funded with the support of the Tennessee Arts Commission and Ingram Charities. At Conexión Américas, our mission is to build a welcoming community and create opportunities where Latino families can belong, contribute, and succeed.

We extend a special thank you to our volunteer artist selection panel, and photographer Cesar Virto whose photographs of the artists are used in the exhibition and project.

Cesar Pita

Cesar Pita, a ceramic artist born in Los Angeles and raised in the South, aims to honor Mexican culture through his artwork as he reconnects with his roots. Inspired by memories of family and community, he promotes representation and encourages pride in personal identity. Additionally, Cesar’s art addresses challenges encountered by the Latino community, aiming to stimulate dialogue and challenge perspectives.

Cesar Pita, un artista ceramista nacido en Los Ángeles y criado en el Sur, tiene como objetivo honrar la cultura mexicana a través de su obra artística y reconectar con sus raíces. Inspirado por recuerdos de familia y comunidad, promueve la representación y fomenta el orgullo en la identidad personal. Además, el arte de César aborda los desafíos enfrentados por la comunidad latina, buscando estimular el diálogo y desafiar perspectivas.

“Working with clay is rooted in a deep connection to my cultural heritage. It evokes memories of my parents’ manual labor and my grandfather’s brick-making process with local clay in the pueblos they’re from. I never had the chance to meet my grandfather, so discovering this connection after his passing was a surreal experience. Putting my hands in clay gains added significance when I see my vessels naturally taking on diverse shades of brown, reminiscent of people who look like me.”

Izamar Rodriguez

Izamar Rodriguez is an artist, designer and illustrator. She works in both traditional mediums such as oil paint, as well as digitally with programs such as Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. She is originally from Chicago, Illinois but has lived in Nashville for over 15 years. Her roots are in Venado, San Luis Potosi, Mexico. She started her journey in the art world when she was 9 years old and has continued the journey from childhood into adulthood. As an artist, she is inspired by the fantastical myths and stories of the Aztecs and Mexican folklore, as well as the day to day of life in Mexico. She believes that our stories and traditions should be kept alive for the younger generations to know that we have an important story to tell.

Izamar Rodríguez es una artista, diseñadora e ilustradora. Trabaja en medios tradicionales como la pintura al óleo y también digitalmente con programas como Adobe Illustrator y Photoshop. Originaria de Chicago, Illinois, ha vivido en Nashville por más de 15 años. Sus raíces están en Venado, San Luis Potosí, México. Comenzó su trayectoria en el mundo del arte cuando tenía 9 años y ha seguido éste camino desde la infancia hasta la adultez. Como artista, se inspira en los mitos fantásticos, las historias de los aztecas y el folclor mexicano; así como el día a día de la vida en México. Cree que debemos mantener vivas nuestras historias y tradiciones y enseñarlas a las generaciones más jóvenes para que sepan que tenemos una historia importante que contar.

“My work explores the fragile connection to the past through the memories that leave a huella in my life. These illustrations are inspired by my memories as a child, my days as a young artist at school, and when I would visit Mexico, that connection to my homeland. I want to represent my culture using my own artist voice and my skills as an illustrator and designer. My work relates to the theme of mi Huella because like a memory, a huella is intricate, unique and precious but with time, a huella and a memory fades. I want to make my memories and huella last and memorialize my experiences in my work.”

Yanira Vissepo

Yanira Vissepo is a self taught artist living in Nashville, Tennessee. She works in printmaking, cyanotype, dye resists, and hand embroidery. Vissepo’s work has been shown at Vanderbilt Fine Arts Gallery, Lipscomb University, ZieherSmith, 21c Museum, Elephant Gallery, Open Gallery, Soho House. Vissepo has had solo shows at The Electric Shed, Fort Houston and Coop Gallery. In 2019 she studied traditional woodblock printmaking at The International School of Mokuhanga, Japan. She has taught at the Frist Museum and the Nashville Public Library.

Yanira Vissepo es una artista autodidacta que vive en Nashville, Tennessee. Trabaja en grabado, cianotipia, resistencias de tinte y bordado a mano. El trabajo de Vissepo ha sido exhibido en la Galería de Bellas Artes de Vanderbilt, la Universidad Lipscomb, Zieher Smith, el Museo 21c, la Galería Elephant, la Galería Abierta y el Soho House. Vissepo ha tenido exposiciones individuales en The Electric Shed, Fort Houston y en Coop Gallery. En 2019 estudió grabado tradicional en madera en la Escuela Internacional de Mokuhanga, Japón. Ha impartido clases en el Museo de artes Frist y en la Biblioteca Pública de Nashville.

“This work is a study of Puerto Rico’s ecosystem. My pieces are centered around the gradient linocuts of native plants and the natural terrain of my birthplace in the Caribbean sea and of my adopted home in the American South, highlighting the rich biodiversity of plants endemic to Puerto Rico and Tennessee including the land’s terrain. It is an immersive retrospective of my artistic practice – bringing many of the variables and conditions that make my home island important to discuss.”

Alvaro Hernandez

Alvaro Hernandez was born in Venezuela and relocated to Miami at the age of 9. Since then, he has embraced a nomadic lifestyle, spending each passing year in different cities, states, or even countries. What he once believed to be a painful and lonely experience has evolved into an appreciation as he has grown older. Influenced by his father, this nomadic journey has granted him opportunities to meet diverse people and experience unique moments. His goal is to inspire people of all backgrounds, encouraging everyone to pick up a camera and capture life’s moments, from the mundane to the profound. He seeks for his work to transcend cultural boundaries and speak to the universal human experience of life and death, of emotion.

Alvaro Hernández nació en Venezuela y se trasladó a Miami a los 9 años. Desde entonces, ha abrazado un estilo de vida nómada, pasando cada año en diferentes ciudades, estados o incluso países. Lo que una vez creyó ser una experiencia dolorosa y solitaria ha evolucionado hacia una profunda apreciación a medida que ha crecido. Influenciado por su padre, este viaje nómada le ha brindado oportunidades para conocer a diversas personas y vivir momentos únicos. Su objetivo es inspirar a personas de toda procedencia, animandolos a tomar una cámara y capturar los momentos de la vida, desde lo mundano hasta lo profundo. Busca que su trabajo trascienda las barreras culturales y comunique la experiencia humana universal de la vida y la muerte, de la emoción.

“To me ‘Mi Huella’ signifies the enduring legacy of Latinx art and culture, embracing our roots across borders. My work captures cherished moments with my family, emphasizing the significance of shared experiences and cultural pride. As a Latino immigrant in the US, my photos convey a spectrum of emotions. From the challenges of sadness and loneliness to the joys of pride and hope. Central to ‘Mi Huella’ in my photos is the pivotal role of family, highlighting its importance as a source of strength and connection in navigating the intricate journey of the Latinx immigrant experience.”