Vibrant paintings by artist Manuel Zamudio from McAllen, Texas. Zamudio was born in Mexico City and moved to Texas at the age of five. Faced with the many challenges of negotiating two vastly different cultures at such a young age, Zamudio took refuge in art and storytelling. As he grew older he was particularly drawn to the urban culture of South Texas. His current work is inspired by cinematography, street art, and post-apocalyptic sci-fi novels — creating portraits that offer a surreal blend of reality like snapshots from his own personal movie. As Zamudio writes:

“What remains of aesthetics in a fading world? When the veil of order crumbles and the weariness of decay sets in, the soul of a society thrives, or dies based solely on the affirmations of its unique individuals upholding what identity there is left.

Although despair can weigh heavily even on the lightest of humanity, perseverance in the face of hopelessness, or even madness, can become the strongest fight against inhumane desolation. In the last vestiges of a dying culture, the embers of expression are imbued in even the dimmest of lights.

Just as ancient peoples planted the flag of burgeoning civilizations in caves, the hope in the twilight of a society rests on those still willing to write on the walls.”

See more images below!