Jalen Colton Sanchez
Chupacabra: Illuminating Folklore, 2026
Paper, cardboard
My artistic practice explores identity, spirituality, and cultural hybridity through the lens of my mestizo Hispanic heritage. By bringing traditional Hispanic folklore and the longstanding cultural tradition of the piñata into a contemporary light installation, I reimagine cultural aesthetics and mythological narratives through a hybrid visual language. The illuminated folkloric creature serves as a visual time capsule, preserving stories and traditions from the past while inviting the community to experience and celebrate them together in the present.
About:
Jalen Colton Sanchez (b. 1999, San Antonio, TX) is an emerging multidisciplinary visual artist based in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, currently completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art with a concentration in Sculpture at the University of North Texas. Since beginning his studio practice in 2023, Sanchez has exhibited throughout Texas, facilitated community workshops, and expanded his practice through educational programs at institutions including the University of Texas at San Antonio, Southwest School of Art, and San Antonio Art League & Museum. His honors include First Place Undergraduate at the 2025 TASA Artovation Statewide Juried Exhibition and the Eloise Yantis Stroker Memorial Honors Award at the 2024 San Antonio Art League & Museum Collegiate Exhibition. Most recently, he presented a solo exhibition at Thrd Space Studio in San Antonio, Texas.
Website: https://jalencoltonsanchez.com