Biography
Israel Carranza
Israel Carranza is an artist from Zion, Illinois of Indigenous descent. Being exposed to art and music at an early age, he wanted to be a creator, but growing up with no mentor, Israel sought out art wherever he could find it. He actively read about Mexican and Amerindian painters and looked for Latin fusion music to find inspiration. Israel pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Illustration from the American Academy of Art in Chicago, so he could obtain the tools to hone his artistic style. While a student, he practiced his abstract expressionist discipline, and he interned at the Zhou B Art Center, where he organized and installed large art exhibitions from national and international artists. As a Mixed Mexica man, he is committed to increasing equity in the art world, and on his own time, he works to introduce underserved communities to art through public galleries. Since graduating from college, Israel has organized twelve art exhibitions in a variety of community locations. Before the pandemic, he was working in California as an art receiver handling pieces from creators like Daniel Arsham, and recently, he moved to Nebraska where he plans to work collaboratively with local artists in order to motivate young creators. Israel’s lifelong goal is to diversify the art world by increasing representation of Indigenous people through gallery exhibits, community conversations, and artistic collaboration. For six years, he has developed a mixed-media portfolio influenced by Mesoamerican people. His paintings and digital work are studies of Amerindian relics as he incorporates ancient deities, sharing their stories and representing them in a surreal and expressionistic style. Israel is committed to continue increasing the visibility of Native history and cultures, so their people can be inspired by their ancestors to thrive as a community.
