MAY 8, 2020 — Master of fine arts candidate in UTSA’s Department of Art and Art History—and one of the newest voices of the South Texas art scene—Omar González has unveiled “Homebound,” a virtual art exhibit of his M.F.A. thesis.
Better known by his artist name, OG, the Kingsville native produces mural-sized iconography with autobiographical depictions of rural South Texas and what he was expected to contribute to provide to the homestead.
A sixth-generation Tejano, González has strong family ties to Mexico, which allow him to navigate the intergenerational exchanges between family members both inherited and lost.
His current body of work focuses on the exploration of identity by questioning the beliefs and expectations passed down through generations. He examines the transmission of multigenerational patterns, rigid gender roles and the power structure within the framework of the household.
Graphite and charcoal drawing with digital photo collage (left) by Omar González, a design to later inspire Homebound (2020), house paint, ink, on muslin, 132 × 132 inches, installed for his M.F.A. thesis exhibition. Below: A close-up angle documenting the work created by González.
