Mijo

Mijo reflects the relationship between Mexican American mothers and their sons, and the meaning carried in a word that can be both loving and serious. In many homes, “Mijo” is a form of endearment, but it can also shift into a tone of instruction, a reminder of responsibility, respect, and family. No matter how old or young, mijo stays the same; in the eyes of family, they will always be mijo.
In the painting, a young boy stands facing a wall, coloring iconic places from San Antonio. As he draws, the city becomes part of how he begins to understand the world around him. He is shirtless, wearing baggy blue jeans, with the word mijo tattooed across his back in Old English letters. The tattoo also lightly plays on the stereotype of Mexican American men getting their last name inked across their backs.
Through this moment of a child at play, the work reflects on identity, humor, family bonds, and how culture and place shape who we become.