LATINO YOUTH

LATINO YOUTH

Latino Youth is a portrait series by the Nicaraguan born artist Lola Sandino Stanton. The series depicts a personal reflection on young latinos, some of whom were former students of Stanton’s. The subjects are captured at the moment of discovering their own voice at a pivotal time in their lives. Each painting portrays a symbolic blackbird native to the artist’s home country of Nicaragua, known as a “Zanate”. 

Traditionally a black bird represents a malevolent force although in Stanton’s work, the Zanate symbolizes the arrival of guidance, protection, and creativity in the lives of the youth. Stanton is aware of the challenges that most young latinos confront growing up, including immigration struggles, language barriers, and cultural norms that do not reflect their cultural upbringing or beliefs. For these reasons she chose to represent an empowered image of young latinos, unlocking their inner voice and bolstering them into a confident position. 

For latinos, the current moment in the United States is one of the most hostile in history with new migratory reform and the zero tolerance policy at the Mexico border separating families and this makes the series “Latino Youth” all the more urgent. Lola Sandino Stanton brings an image of a strong latino youth community -- one that is proud of their heritage and rising to have their voices heard.

Lola Sandino Stanton was born in Nicaragua in Central America and live and work in New York City. Stanton was a recent fellow of NYFA Bootcamp for Artist as Entrepreneur, New York, NY in 2017 and is a member of the National Association of Women Artists, The Art Students League, The City College Art Group, and the The Audubon Painters. Recent solo exhibition at The Galleries of The Interchurch Center, New York, NY, 2017. Selected group exhibitions: Kaleidoscope, The Hudson Guild Gallery, West 26th St., New York, NY, 2018, Vacation Ideas, The Hudson Guild Gallery, West 26th St., New York, NY, 2018, Migration, National Association of Women Artists, The NY Public library at Lincoln Center, New York, NY, 2018, 128th Members’ Annual, National Association of Women Artists, New York, NY,  Winner of Merit Award for Oil Painting for “Emilio”, 2017, Biennial at Aaron Davis Hall, The City College Arts Group, New York, NY, 2017, 127th Members’ Annual National Association of Women Artists, The Sylvia Wald and Poe Kim Gallery, New York, NY, Winner of the Medal of Honor for “Katherine”, 2016, Eve(o)lution, Exhibition at the NY Public Library at Lincoln Center, National Association of Women Artists, New York, NY, 2015, Five Artists, Taller Boricua, New York, NY, 2015, and more. 

Nora Maité Nieves holds a MFA in Fiber and Material Studies from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a BFA in Painting from Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico. Nieves maintains a studio practice and works as Gallery Manager of Hunter East Harlem Gallery and Assistant Art Program Curator at The Center For The Puerto Rican Studies of Hunter College.