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Home › News & Events › News › UANews: Alfred Quiroz: Veteran, Art Historian and Iconoclast

UANews: Alfred Quiroz: Veteran, Art Historian and Iconoclast

June 1, 2016

The UA School of Art professor has gained national and international attention for his satirical artwork.

At the end of his military service with the U.S. Navy, Alfred Quiroz committed himself to formal art studies, which would launch a lifetime of artistic work and teaching.

In his South Tucson studio — a space originally provided decades ago by his mother’s husband, so long as Quiroz took care of the building’s security and maintenance — Quiroz produces narrative paintings that sharply explore the realities of people, whether they are in formal positions of power or are those whose voices are actively silenced.

In his work, whether on canvas or large-scale mural paintings, Quiroz, a University of Arizona School of Art professor, documents cultural symbolism, most often through an exploration of historic events and figures. He engages in a sort of allegorical play as he shapes satirical stories around iconic and popular figures such as Our Lady of Guadalupe, George Washington and even Donald Duck in his artwork.

Quiroz, a Vietnam War veteran who joined the UA faculty in 1989, has gained national and international fame for works exploring issues connected with his own Latin American heritage, and also for his visual explorations of issues related to border tensions, racial tensions and violence, warfare, corporate fraud, and global capitalism.

Also, having been hugely involved in southern Arizona’s mural scene, Quiroz has either designed to co-produced extensive murals, including a piece dedicated to the UA-led OSIRIS-REx mission in 2014 on the Michael J. Drake Building; one produced for the Phoenix Mars Lander Science Operations Center in 2006; and a U.S.-Mexico border project from 2004 to 2010, during which he was a Fulbright-García Robles Scholar. At the UA, he introduced in 1995 the first mural class in the School of Art, resulting in the mural frieze around the Joseph Gross Gallery building on campus.

In working with students, as he has for decades, Quiroz’s direction is offered in no ordinary way. He seems to be much more of a coach, encouraging his students to explore their own narratives and concepts, hoping that he can encourage them to find their own ways of communicating, just as he has.

For his work, Quiroz has received numerous awards and other recognition, including the College of Fine Arts 2015 James R. Anthony Award for Sustained Excellence in Teaching and the Dean’s Teaching Award for the 2003-2004 academic year. He also received the LULAC Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.

Quiroz, who is also a UA Faculty Fellow, isn’t merely trying to train students to work in the profession as artists, he says. Rather, he wants to cultivate the creative, deep-thinking capacity in students — something he sees as important regardless of profession or place.

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University of Arizona School of Art
1 hour ago
University of Arizona School of Art

The Rodeo De Tucson Group Show features four paintings by Moira Geoffrion, chair of the School of Art Advisory Board and professor emerita. The opening reception is Friday, Feb. 3, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Medicine Man Gallery, 6872 E. Sunrise Drive. The show will showcase more than 30 artists, including Howard Post (BFA '72, MFA '78). Go to tinyurl.com/y6uases9 for more details. Arizona Arts The University of Arizona Mark Sublette Medicine Man Gallery ... See MoreSee Less

The Rodeo De Tucson Group Show features four paintings by Moira Geoffrion, chair of the School of Art Advisory Board and professor emerita. The opening reception is Friday, Feb. 3, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Medicine Man Gallery, 6872 E. Sunrise Drive. The show will showcase more than 30 artists, including Howard Post (BFA 72, MFA 78). Go to https://tinyurl.com/y6uases9 for more details. Arizona Arts The University of Arizona Mark Sublette Medicine Man Gallery
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University of Arizona School of Art
1 day ago
University of Arizona School of Art

Congrats to Dwayne Manuel (MFA '14), whose art collaboration with the Phoenix Suns was featured on the team's main scoreboard last week. www.dwaynemanuel.com/ ... See MoreSee Less

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University of Arizona School of Art
5 days ago
University of Arizona School of Art

This content isn't available right now ... See MoreSee Less

This content isn't available right now

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University of Arizona School of Art
5 days ago
University of Arizona School of Art

Ellen McMahon and Tioni Collins from Arizona Arts will give their “Perspectives on Resilience” for the Arizona Institute for Resilience on Feb. 2, 1-5p.

An eye-opening afternoon of idea sharing, learning, and networking around the theme of resilience with TED-style lightning talks, speed networking, and an interactive speaker panel. Attend in person (ENR2 Room S107) or on zoom.

azart.fyi/RSVPResilience

McMahon, associate dean for research, is the opening speaker and she’ll talk about the relationship between "Art, Knowledge, and Resilience." Collins, our student diversity programs specialist, will present “Predictable and Hidden Challenges of Higher Education.”

Learn how other faculty, researchers, and students approach resilience from their diverse backgrounds and disciplines. Meet potential collaborators across campus.

This half-day hybrid occasion will culminate with the unveiling of exciting new funding opportunities for future resilience-themed endeavors. A reception will follow.

azart.fyi/ResilienceInfo

Arizona Institutes for Resilience
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UArizona Research, Innovation & Impact
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University of Arizona School of Art
7 days ago
University of Arizona School of Art

Congrats to Robert Edward Gordon (Ph.D. Art History, '15), who recently published "Buddhist Architecture in America: Building for Enlightenment" through Routledge (tinyurl.com/2yzn7t2y). The book draws from Robert's dissertation, "The Heart in the Matter: Design, Belief and a History of Buddhist Architecture in America," under Professor Paul Ivey. Arizona Arts The University of Arizona Center for Buddhist Studies ... See MoreSee Less

Congrats to Robert Edward Gordon (Ph.D. Art History, 15), who recently published Buddhist Architecture in America: Building for Enlightenment through Routledge (https://tinyurl.com/2yzn7t2y). The book draws from Roberts dissertation, The Heart in the Matter: Design, Belief and a History of Buddhist Architecture in America, under Professor Paul Ivey. Arizona Arts The University of Arizona Center for Buddhist StudiesImage attachment
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University of Arizona School of Art
2 weeks ago
University of Arizona School of Art

We were delighted to host the Visions Program from Scottsdale today with a series of tours and workshops with our faculty — and to show students what it’s like to be an Art Wildcat!

The program brings together 42 art students from diverse Maricopa County high schools for a yearlong series of activities designed "to cultivate artistic skills, collaboration and civic engagement," Visions says.

Opening speeches from Colin Blakely, (School of Art Director), Karen Zimmerman (Associate Director), lydia see (Gallery Director) and Ashley Rubin (Art Advising) welcomed students and gave them a glimpse into the workings of the school. Visiting Profs. Danielle Jones (3DXM) and Erin DiGiovanni (2D) and Assistant Prof. Nicole Antebi (IDA/Animation) held workshops, while Denise Angulo (Administrative Associate) and student workers Kayla Bradshaw and Alex Allen led the tours. Thanks everyone for an amazing day! (Photos by Ava Sheppard)
... See MoreSee Less

We were delighted to host the Visions Program from Scottsdale today with a series of tours and workshops with our faculty — and to show students what it’s like to be an Art Wildcat! 

The program brings together 42 art students from diverse Maricopa County high schools for a yearlong series of activities designed to cultivate artistic skills, collaboration and civic engagement, Visions says.   

Opening speeches from Colin Blakely, (School of Art Director), Karen Zimmerman (Associate Director), lydia see (Gallery Director) and Ashley Rubin (Art Advising) welcomed students and gave them a glimpse into the workings of the school. Visiting Profs. Danielle Jones (3DXM) and Erin DiGiovanni (2D) and Assistant Prof. Nicole Antebi (IDA/Animation) held workshops, while Denise Angulo (Administrative Associate) and student workers Kayla Bradshaw and Alex Allen led the tours. Thanks everyone for an amazing day! (Photos by Ava Sheppard)Image attachmentImage attachment+5Image attachment
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