Tlacaelel Fuentes Brings Cut-Paper Practice to New Mexico State Fair, ArtNews and SPECTRUM Chicago
The artist known as Patricio Tlacaelel Trujillo y Fuentes, originally named Patrick Trujillo, chose the name Tlacaelel in tribute to poet Cecilio "Xilo" Garcia Camarillo. He embraces his Chicano roots by transforming Patrick into Patricio and adopting his mother’s surname, Fuentes. His intricate cut-paper creations, inspired by Mexican papel picado and the works of José Guadalupe Posada, utilize removed material as a form of drawing. His background in modern dance from NYC influences his artistic style, while his experiences with El Teatro Campesino inform his presentation. His piece Ventana Rosa was featured in an exhibition at the Millicent Rogers Museum in Taos, New Mexico, which subsequently acquired it. Fuentes is represented by Michael Gorman Gallery and Cruz Gallery, and he will participate in the New Mexico State Fair from September 10 to 20, 2026.
Key facts
- Tlacaelel Fuentes was born Patrick Trujillo and later adopted the full name Patricio Tlacaelel Trujillo y Fuentes
- Cecilio "Xilo" Garcia Camarillo suggested the name Tlacaelel
- Fuentes trained in New York City with dance teachers Paul Sanasardo, Martha Graham and May O'Donnell
- His cut-paper work draws on Mexican papel picado and the legacy of José Guadalupe Posada
- Ventana Rosa was shown in a Chicano art exhibition he curated at the Millicent Rogers Museum in Taos, New Mexico, which later acquired it
- Fuentes is represented by Michael Gorman Gallery in Taos and Cruz Gallery in Española, New Mexico
- He is scheduled to appear at the New Mexico State Fair in Albuquerque from September 10 to 20, 2026
- He is scheduled to show at SPECTRUM Chicago, sponsored by Redwood Art Group at The Mart, from October 7 to 10, 2026
Entities
Artists
- Tlacaelel Fuentes
- Patricio Tlacaelel Trujillo y Fuentes
- Patrick Trujillo
- Cecilio "Xilo" Garcia Camarillo
- José Guadalupe Posada
- Paul Sanasardo
- Martha Graham
- May O'Donnell
- Oscar Lozoya
Institutions
- Millicent Rogers Museum
- Michael Gorman Gallery
- Cruz Gallery
- El Teatro Campesino
- La Compania de Teatro de Albuquerque
- New Mexico State Fair
- ArtNews
- SPECTRUM Chicago
- Redwood Art Group
- The Mart
- AATONAU
Locations
- Taos
- New Mexico
- United States
- Española
- Albuquerque
- Chicago
- Illinois
- New York City
- New York
Sources
- AATONAU —