Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month -- September 15 through October 15 -- celebrates the countless contributions of over 60 million people to our society and culture. The month-long celebration honors "Spain, Mexico, and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, South America, and the Caribbean," according to the U.S. Census of Bureau. National Hispanic Heritage Week was first introduced by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968, which expanded from a week to a month-long period beginning in 1989, after it became public law in 1988.

To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, Bay State College recognizes the contributions and tremendous impact of Hispanic artists.

• Frida Kahlo (1907-1954)
  One of the most famous artists of the 20th century, Mexican painter, Frida Kahlo, was best known for her colorful paintings that focused on the themes of identity, nature, the human body, and death. Much of her work incorporated pre-Columbian symbols and has established herself as a feminist icon and political advocate, even after her untimely death.
  
  
• Pablo Picasso (1181-1973)
  Regarded as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, Pablo Picasso, most known for cofounding the Cubist movement, often categorized his artwork into periods. While the names of many of his later periods are debated, the most commonly accepted periods are the Blue Period (1901-1904), the Rose Period (1904-1906), the African-influences Period (1907-1909), Analytic Cubism (1909-1912), and Synthetic Cubism (1912-1919).
  
  
• Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988)
  An artist of Haitian and Puerto Rican decent, Jean-Michel Basquiat, first achieved fame as an informal graffiti artist who wrote enigmatic epigrams on the Lower East Side of Manhattan during the late 1970's. His artwork focused on the discrepancies in wealth versus poverty, integration versus segregation, and inner versus outer experiences. Basquiat tragically died of a heroin overdose at the age of 27, but his art continues to inspire based on his stands for breaking down class struggle and systems of racism.
  
  
• Salvador Dali (1904-1989)
  Renowned for his technical skills and precision in all of his artwork, Salvador Dali, was a Spanish Surrealist artist with a career that spanned more than six decades. Known as one of the most influential artists in modern art, he was a painter, sculptor, filmmaker, and photographer that cultivated eccentricity and often depicted dream sequences throughout his work.

These artists have left a mark on our culture and continue to capture the hearts of the public with their skills and ability to take risks. Their artwork has taken on a life of their own and allowed for political and social change and we thank them for all of their contributions and future inspiration.

Learn more about National Hispanic Heritage Month by visiting the City of Boston website.