Return Architect <br/> Giovanni Valderas

From the brightly painted houses and tire shops to the informal pop-up markets, front lawn parked cars, booming music reverberating through the streets, and the aroma of fajitas wafting through the air, Valderas draws deeply from his cultural heritage and lived experiences growing up in the Latino/x neighborhood of Oak Cliff, Dallas, Texas.

Return Architect investigates the realities faced by marginalized communities of color, often perceived as “nuisances” within neighborhoods undergoing economic and social pressures. The work explores the systemic erosion of agency, highlighting how working-class individuals are affected by everything from microaggressions to exclusionary city ordinances in the face of aggressive gentrification.

Valderas’ practice merges mixed media with papier mâché elements inspired by the piñata, reimagining it as a subversive tool rooted in cultural symbolism. By activating public spaces and engaging directly with the Latino/x community, his work disrupts the boundaries between art and everyday life. Echoing the historical co-opting of Indigenous traditions by Spanish colonizers in the late 1400s, Valderas employs craft materials such as tissue paper to challenge institutional power and provoke conversation. His installations serve as intentional interruptions, playful yet potent catalysts for critical dialogue and self-reflection in the public realm.

Website: www.giovannivalderas.com

Instagram: @giovannivalderas_com