John Sierra is a Fresno based artist, born in Kerman in 1942. He’s known for his work as a muralist, author, illustrator, and educator. He co-founded Arte Américas in 1987, and worked as its Artistic Director until 2000. 1982, The City of Fresno named John Sierra’s Day on July 17th, the day John Sierra completed his 5-story mural titled The Planting of Cultureslocated in the California State Building in Downtown Fresno. His work has been exhibited in several museums and galleries throughout the United States, such as The Mexican Museum in Chicago, the Oakland Museum of Art, and the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, DC. He was a Rockefeller fellow in 1978 (NEA Fellowship Museum Administration/De Young Museum, SF) and has been awarded Artist of the Year by the Fresno Arts Council (1992), and Local Hero of the Year (2001) by the Union Bank of California.