Our video series showcases local artists across Fort Worth and Tarrant County. It highlights each artist’s career, diving into their inspirations, creative process and artistic style.
Fort Worth artist Erik Gomez views his art as a love letter to his Mexican culture. For him, it’s important to stay connected to his roots.
“I’m very inspired by Mexican art,” Gomez said. “But it feels intertwined because at the end of the day, I’m Mexican. If I make the art, it will be Mexican art.”
With each piece, Gomez pulls from cultural imagery and creates art with gold outlines with reds, greens and blues that pop right off the prints.
“The style that I’ve created is the exact representation of me and something either gender would be comfortable with,” Gomez said.
Born in Chihuahua, Mexico, Gomez has been living in Fort Worth for over 20 years. Gomez has freelanced for over four years and worked to ensure he fully controls his work.
“When I started, I was doing ink on paper, and I would transfer them digitally,” Gomez said. “It was a process that took me forever. Now I have better tools and a better understanding of how I can create not just by hand, but digitally. It’s taken my art to a whole new level.”
In his art piece ‘Lucha por el amor,’ Gomez wanted to illustrate a Mexican wrestler’s strong masculine imagery in a soft, vulnerable moment, he said.
“I chose him holding the flowers, because it’s the literal translation of fighting for love,” Gomez said. “He’s a fighter, but also a lover. There’s a balance again.”
Gomez has previously showcased his art and handmade merchandise at local markets across Forth Worth and Dallas, including ArtsGoggle in April and Orgullo Oak Cliff Pride & Market in June.
“I’ve met and connected with people who share the love of art with me,” Gomez said. “One of the things that kept me motivated to continue my art was finding community.”
David Moreno is a multimedia fellow for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at david.moreno@fortworthreport.org or via Twitter. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
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