This retrospective celebrates the life and work of F. John Sierra, an artist, educator, and visionary who has left an indelible mark on Fresno and beyond. Born in Kerman in 1942, Sierra’s artistic journey reflects a deep commitment to his community and cultural heritage. His work as a muralist, author, illustrator, and educator has shaped not only the artistic landscape of the Central Valley but also fostered the creation of Arte Américas, the very institution that now honors him. Through this retrospective, Arte Américas invites viewers to journey through Sierra’s expansive career, from his early illustrations to his large-scale murals that now stand as cultural landmarks. More than a mere survey of an artist’s life, this exhibition is a tribute to the enduring legacy of F. John Sierra—the man who not only documented the community’s cultural roots but also actively shaped its artistic future.
Early Years, primeros años
F. John Sierra was born on August 21, 1942, in Kerman, California. He was one of nine children born to Felix, a farm laborer from Guanajuato, Mexico, who came to California at the age of four, and Margaret a full-time mother born in the United States. His family later moved to Biola, where he spent his childhood. Reflecting on his early aspirations, Sierra once said, “As a child, I often said I would be an inventor when I grew up, not realizing at the time that I would pursue an art career. I have retained that goal, always attempting something new or different in my art.”
In 1954, the Sierra family relocated to Fresno, where they set down roots. Sierra attended St. John’s Elementary and San Joaquín Memorial High School. After graduating (‘60) he worked in the fields, the Fresno Guide Newspaper, and an advertising company. In the evenings, he took his first art classes at Fresno City College, focusing on pencil work due to limited financial resources. “When we got into oil paintings, I couldn’t afford them. So, I just dealt with what I had which was mostly pencil, not even colored pencils because those were expensive,” he recalls.
In 1965, his exceptional drawing skills led him to enlist as a Technical Illustrator in the Air Force. He was stationed at James Connelly Air Base, 12th A.F.H.Q., in Waco, Texas, where he served until 1968. Reflecting on this time, he recalled, “Vietnam was happening, and I knew they were going to call me at some point. Somebody told me, ‘You should take a drawing to show you have some skills.’ Turns out they needed a Technical Illustrator in Waco, Texas. I was surprised they had such a job as Technical Illustrator.”
The Biola Series
“I grew up in this valley feeling as if, in a sense, we didn’t exist—or we existed at some level, but almost invisibly. What little was known about us wasn’t obvious, wasn’t public. I never saw a book about us…and yet, I knew we had been in the Valley for hundreds of years, doing the kind of work that sustained entire communities.”
F. John Sierra
F. John Sierra’s Biola Series is a personal exploration of identity, memory, and representation. The series consists of drawings and paintings based on old black-and-white and sepia-toned photographs from the 1940s and 1950s, found in a forgotten cabinet of a variety store in Biola, California. The store’s owner, an acquaintance of Sierra, discovered the photos while preparing to move and shared them with him, knowing Sierra’s deep connection to Biola and passion for cultural preservation. Rather than simply preserving the images, Sierra transformed these unknown working-class individuals into the protagonists of his own work, honoring lives that mirrored his own. Growing up, he never saw people like himself represented in history books, literature, or the public narrative of the Central Valley. Through this series, he gives them the recognition they never received.
“I look back now, and I realize that I grew up in a small community of primarily Mexicanos. My father, like so many others, worked in the fields. And I think it’s important that we all recognize our shared experiences—that we’ve gone through the same struggles, that we stand on the same level. In the long run, we must embrace who we really are and take pride in those things.”
F. John Sierra
Sierra & the Chicano Movement
In the 1970’s, F. John Sierra became deeply immersed in the Chicano Movement. His art during this time emphasized a connection to cultural pride and the topic of cultural assimilation. Sierra’s work with Luis Valdez’s Teatro Campesino —a key institution of the Chicano arts movement—, allowed him to engage directly with the struggles of farmworkers and the broader cultural and political battles of the era.
As a member of La Brocha del Valle, the first Chicano art collective in the Central Valley, Sierra produced murals and works that reflected the realities of farm labor and the Chicano experience. His political commitment culminated in a powerful MA exhibition at Fresno State in 1974, where he showcased works like ‘200 by Las Doce’—a painting that illustrates the effort exerted by farm laborers to meet their daily quota of 200 grape trays by noon. After obtaining his MA, Sierra went on to a secondary teaching credential, which he later used to teach Chicano Art History as an adjunct professor at Fresno City College.
Carreta ’74
Carreta ’74: “Americana” Model was exhibited at the Fresno State Art Gallery in the spring of 1974 as part of Sierra’s master’s exhibition. Traditionally, a carreta is used to transport crops, goods, and people, and is commonly found in rural areas of Latin America. But Carreta ’74 is more than just a tool—its meaning goes beyond functionality, symbolizing the labor, migration, and resilience of our farmworker community.
For this exhibition, master carpenters built a new version of Carreta ’74 following Sierra’s original design. In keeping with Sierra and Arte Américas’ tradition of collaborating with local artists, Chicano artist Julio Hernández was commissioned to paint the piece. Using the warm color palette provided by Sierra, Hernández incorporated elements of lowrider aesthetics, an art form deeply connected to Chicano culture and identity.
More than just a means of transport, Carreta ’74 represents the pride, collective history, and cultural resilience of our community.
From Centro Bellas Artes to Arte Américas
F. John Sierra helped promote contemporary art by creating public exhibition spaces like Calavera Studios and Galería Campesina, giving the community access to important artistic, cultural, and political exhibitions. In 1978, he received a Rockefeller/NEA Fellowship in Museum Administration, allowing him to train at the de Young Museum in San Francisco. This experience later inspired him to establish Centro Bellas Artes, a Latino cultural arts center in the Central Valley.
In the early 1980s, Centro Bellas Artes was founded with the mission of celebrating and promoting Mexican, Latin, and Hispanic cultures, with John Sierra as artistic director and chief curator, operating from a small office in Warnors Theatre in downtown Fresno. In 1987, Sierra, Lilia Gonzáles Chávez, and Nancy Márquez founded Arte Américas, but it was not until 1995 that they were able to establish a permanent space in the Valley. In 1995, with funds from a community development grant, the organization purchased its current building on Van Ness Avenue and Calaveras from Bank of America.
From its inception, Sierra was instrumental in establishing Arte Américas, serving as Artistic Director until 2000. Under his leadership, Arte Américas grew to become the largest cultural arts center in the Central Valley.
The Planting of Cultures
In 1978, after a nationwide open call, Sierra was awarded a prestigious public art commission to create a five-story mural on the State Building in Fresno. Completed four years later, in1982, The Planting of Cultures remains a monumental testament to both Sierra’s artistic and humanistic vision. Located at 1050 O St. in Downtown Fresno, it is still the tallest mural in the Valley and stands as a key piece in California’s history of public art.
The Planting of Cultures is an allegory to planting traditions, ideas, and identities that take root and flourish over time. Divided into three expansive panels, the mural depicts people from many lands, each contributing their skills and working with the great natural resources of the life-giving San Joaquin Valley. These individuals reach out toward peace and understanding, illustrating the shared hope for a harmonious future. Forty-three years after the mural was completed, The Planting of Cultures continues to inspire, instilling hope and pride in the communities it represents.
Sierra: The Painter
As he completed the mural The Planting of Cultures, Sierra began teaching art at Roosevelt High School. Like many educators, he continued to experiment with techniques, driven by an unending curiosity. During this time, Sierra explored muslin, a finely woven cloth that added depth and texture to his works. Inspired by the philosophy of Mexican artist Rufino Tamayo (b. Oaxaca 1899-1991), who believed that artists reinvent themselves with every creation, Sierra embraced the spirit of invention. He developed a unique medium using muslin as his canvas, experimenting with innovative methods to express his Mexican identity through a universal language.
While this new material connected him more intimately to the traditions of pre-Columbian art, his lifelong passion for Mayan writing and Mesoamerican iconography opened a conversation about heritage. Together, form and content generated a singular visual language. On the one hand, Sierra’s ethereal figures reflect the mysticism of hieroglyphics, ancient rituals, and traditional dress of the peoples of the Americas. On the other hand, Sierra’s subtle use of color—colors that seemed on the verge of fading—create a softness that evokes a modern poetic sensibility, adding a mysterious quality and allowing us to connect with a universal core of being.
Día de Muertos
In the 1980’s, Sierra played a pivotal role in founding and shaping Arte Américas. Although Arte Américas was not formally established until 1987, the foundation for a cultural center dedicated to fostering an appreciation of Latin cultures began three years earlier with Centro Bellas Artes. Under Sierra’s leadership as artistic director and curator, Centro Bellas Artes launched a flagship annual exhibition centered on the theme of Día de Muertos, setting the stage for what would become Arte Américas’ enduring legacy.
Curated by Sierra from 1985 to 2000, this event was not only an opportunity to celebrate the traditional Mexican holiday on November 1st and 2nd but also a platform to challenge artists to explore the theme of death with humor and depth. Through these exhibitions, Sierra honored the cultural and spiritual significance of the festivity while expanding the cultural dialogue in Fresno. He invited groundbreaking artists, such as pioneering Chicana artist Amalia Mesa-Bains, master artisan Pedro Linares and his family, writer Gary Soto, members of the Royal Chicano Air Force, and Luis Valdez, regarded as the father of Chicano film and playwriting. By intertwining art with community celebration and activism, Sierra’s curatorial work was instrumental in cementing Arte Américas as an essential cultural institution in the region.
Sierra’s Graphic Work
In addition to his work in murals and painting, Sierra has also made significant contributions to the world of graphic arts, especially through his poster designs. His Heritage poster, commissioned in 1983 for the Association of Mexican-American Educators (AMAE), now resides in the collection of the Oakland Museum of California. The poster, featuring powerful imagery reflecting Mexican-American culture, earned Sierra recognition in the world of graphic design and became a symbol of pride for the Latino/a community.
My México / México Mío
Illustrations by F. John Sierra
In 1992, F. John Sierra was contacted by his friend, writer Gary Soto, who asked if he would be interested in illustrating a book. Sierra agreed and sent samples of his artwork to the publisher. While his work was not selected for Soto’s book, the publisher was impressed and kept his art on file. A year later, they invited Sierra to illustrate My México / México Mío, a book of poems by Tony Johnston, inspired by her years living in Mexico during the 1970s.
This exhibition includes all works produced for the book, many of them original pencil drawings.
CURATORIAL TEXT
Born in Kerman, California, in 1942, F. John Sierra is a key figure in California’s Central Valley. As an artist, educator, curator, and co-founder of Arte Américas, Sierra has profoundly shaped the Valley’s cultural landscape, highlighting its vibrant Latino heritage. This retrospective offers an opportunity to experience the full scope of Sierra’s trajectory in one place, showcasing over 100 works that span each stage of his artistic career—from his early involvement in the Chicano movement to his ongoing intimate explorations of cultural identity.
Sierra’s most iconic work, The Planting of Cultures (1982), a five-story mural in Downtown Fresno, is a testament to his meticulous craftsmanship and humanistic vision. In a rare behind-the-scenes look at the mural’s evolution, viewers will trace Sierra’s creative process from conceptualization to realization through early sketches and archival materials. This exhibition invites viewers not only to witness Sierra’s process but also to follow his journey of constant reinvention and experimentation: from the bold strokes of his early political statements to the grace of his subtle pencil drawings; from the magnitude of his public art to the delicate depth of his studio work.
In addition to featuring his work as an artist, this exhibition reflects on Sierra’s lasting influence as an educator, curator, and community leader in the Central Valley, providing a long-overdue recognition of his profound impact—one that extends far beyond these galleries and resonates through time, connecting ancient echoes to the whispers of a hopeful future.
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Sierra’s work has been exhibited in prominent museums and galleries across the United States and internationally, including The National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago, the Oakland Museum of California, and the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. His works have also been shown in Las Vegas, New York, Mexico City, and Genoa, Italy. Co-founder and Artistic Director of Arte Américas, he was also a member of the Mexican Museum and Galería 24 in San Francisco, and of Alliance for the Arts in Fresno, California. He is the illustrator of My Mexico/México mío, a bilingual children’s book written by Tony Johnston and edited by NYC P- Putman’s Sons (1996). He taught at Roosevelt High School of the Arts in Fresno Unified School District from 1989 to 2006. He was awarded a Rockefeller/NEA Fellowship for Museum Administration at the De Young Museum in 1978 and has been recognized as Artist of the Year by the Fresno Arts Council (1992) and Local Hero of the Year by Union Bank of California (2001).
Credits
This exhibition was curated by Lorena Marrón, Arte Américas Director of Education and Public Programs, in collaboration with F. John Sierra.
We extend our deepest gratitude to the Sierra Family, Chávez Family, Llamas-Prieto Family and Marisol Baca, for generously loaning works for this exhibition.
Special thanks to Stephanie Ayon who served as the Exhibition Coordinator, and all Arte Américas staff who contributed their time and expertise to make this exhibition possible.