Though Latinx people have long been part of the fabric of this country, Latinx artists in the United States have only recently begun to be acknowledged by the mainstream art world. Because of the lack of support for their works, many Latinx artists established their own venues—from New York to Los Angeles, San Francisco to Chicago, Phoenix to San Antonio—to showcase the varied artistic visions of this diverse community. In recent years institutional support has become more forthcoming, thanks in large part to a generation of Latinx scholars, curators, and writers who have raised the profiles of their artistic elders and contemporaries. And while market support has been much slower in coming, that too is beginning to change.
Below we examine 75 of the most important and exciting Latinx artists, who have had a profound impact on art history and their communities by creating work in which community members can see themselves represented. This list is by no means comprehensive but serves as entry point to learn about a diverse group of artists who deserve further study.