Simon Silva

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Artist, Author & Writer

Simon Silva is an artist and active speaker. Simon Silva's paintings depict stylized portraits of farm workers bending to harvest crops, suns radiating heat, and picturesque fields and valleys. His images are simplistic, powerful, beautiful, and about the Chicano culture. He used these images, scenes he used to be ashamed of, to empower himself and other Chicanos. In fact, Silva said he grew up, like many from farm working families, with a tremendous lack of self-esteem.

Simon attended Imperial Valley College and majored in art. In addition, he turned to literature for focus. Through Chicano literature, he was able to focus on Chicano culture in his art work. He feels that it is what he needs to paint; not only for him but for those out there that have no self esteem. He says it is his opportunity to tell a campesino, ‘You're important enough for me to paint about and you're also important enough to write about.'

Silva expanded this exploration of his farm working past in 1998 with the publication of his first book, Small-Town Browny, a collection of autobiographical short stories of his childhood.

Silva also spends his time traveling around the country speaking about his experiences and the importance of art and literature.