Mercados, corner stores and grocery aisles are the terrain of Mercado/Material, a new exhibition opening Thursday at San Antonio’s Centro de Artes. The show brings together more than a dozen artists and remains on view through March 7, 2027, according to CultureMap San Antonio and sponsored coverage by the San Antonio Current.
The exhibition looks at everyday commerce as part of Latino neighborhood life and visual culture. CultureMap reports that its artists come from San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, New York City and Chicago, and that the work draws on settings ranging from open-air markets and bodegas to large grocery stores. Examples described by the outlet include papel picado, pink cake, aguas frescas stands and cars styled after Ocumicho pottery.
A local gallery’s broader purpose
That subject connects with Centro de Artes’ broader purpose. The San Antonio Current describes the gallery as dedicated to telling the Latino experience in the United States, particularly in South Texas. That focus provides institutional context for the exhibition.
The show also includes Chuck Ramirez, a San Antonio artist and former H-E-B art director, according to CultureMap and the San Antonio Current’s sponsored exhibition coverage. Ramirez’s food-related art has a documented history beyond this show: the Smithsonian American Art Museum identifies Breakfast Tacos as part of his Seven Days series. That reference offers context for his practice; it does not identify which of his works are displayed in Mercado/Material.
Visit
Mercado/Material opens Thursday at Centro de Artes, 101 South Santa Rosa Avenue in Historic Market Square. CultureMap reports that the opening reception is free. The exhibition is scheduled to run through March 7, 2027.
