Today we’d like to introduce you to Jackie Salgado.
Hi Jackie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Jackie Salgado was born in San Antonio, Texas, on the west side of town in a multi generational house.
She remembers growing up with many people in a single home environment and being the first member in her family to be able to speak English fluently. Early in her childhood, she remembers being disciplined to behave and be a quiet child, so she preoccupied herself with reading, crayons, and drawing. As a young child 5-7 years old she spent lots of time outside and always felt inspired by nature and the fine details no one paid attention to. Her young art deeply reflected the overlooked aspects of botanicals and spirituality that only the innocence of a child can fully understand. Her artistic skills became apparent, when adults she would see routinely, including teachers, and doctors, continuously made comments about her excelled talent in drawing and artist skills throughout her years of adolescence. This positive reinforcement encouraged her to explore this talent more with age.
Growing up, she remembers passing a multi-story mega mural in downtown San Antonio, at a local hospital called Christus Santa Rosa, which stood 93 feet tall- and it was at this moment, Salgado had her “aha” moment and Inspiration struck. She vowed to one day work with the city and have a mural this grand in size and in message. Her traditional family & their ideals deeply discouraged her dreams for her art and instead encouraged her to pursue medicine and eventually become a doctor due to her excelled skills in math and science.
In her early 20’s Salgado had a roller coaster of educational experiences. In 2018 she gave birth to her daughter and became a single mother, raising her full time. In 2020 she pursued her art career and attained her Associate of Arts in General Science from San Antonio College, and by pressures of her family, in 2021, she pursued Pre-Med at UTSA. This, in the eyes of her family, would lead to a more steady and prestigious route as a first generation student. The pursuit of a Bachelor’s was challenging as a single mother living in student housing, having to raise a two year old, who constantly stayed by her side, while taking incredibly hard science courses with an equally intense schedule. Upon coming up on her Senior year, although she excelled in her classes, she could not ignore the dreaded thought of following this direction her entire life. She confidently decided on leaving her future in Medicine to go back to her art and to remain fully present while raising her child alone.
Today, Salgado is a working artist and is presently focussing on expanding her mural work. She is well known for her dark aesthetic, Indigenous themes, and Western flair. She utilizes botanical & ecological wildlife references, her Indigenous and Chicanx cultural roots, and traditional spirituality to fully emulate her mark within her art. Recent projects include working with San Antonio Department of Arts & Culture, Dream Week SA, RAW: Reflect at the Aztec, Pancakes & Booze, Get Creative SA: Memento-Morium at Space C7, the Green Group Exhibition at La Zona Cultural and curating and producing The Dream Group Art & Mural Exhibition at Nomas Arte Studios. To date she has added to her educational curriculum by graduating from San Antonio Street Art Initiative’s BRICK by BRICK art education program in 2024, and has now added curation, and art event production to her resume.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Working as a small business owner and as a single parent isn’t easy but it’s been my biggest struggle as an artist. When I feel discouraged I recenter myself in my purpose and within my vision.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Chicana and Ojibwe Chippewa, Sault Ste. Marie, indigenous artist, living in San Antonio, Texas. I am a full-time working artist, and I am also a single parent, and I am most well known for my black and white fine lined work, as well as my spiritually charged & visually vibrant colored work. I am most proud of the life that I have built despite the obstacles and I am proud of my cultural, heritage and my roots most of all. Within the Ojibwe culture, we do not look at ourselves, as set, apart from others, or our relatives or the Earth. We consider ourselves interconnected to our Creator, to those within our lives, and we carry ourselves within a way that affects seven generations ahead of us. I think it’s important to carry this seven generations mentality, also known as the red road, because it is what makes Indigenous ways so different from Euro-Centric & westernized mentality that is centered around self and organized religion.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I honestly don’t really believe in luck. I believe in manifesting with good
intention & dedication, and I believe in self discipline. Most of all I believe in purpose, and I believe in the power of community, because without those things I would not be where I am today.
Pricing:
- Shirts $20
- Prints $15
- Card-stock Posters $25
- Original Art varies in price
Contact Info:
- Website: https://events.getcreativesanantonio.com/artist/jack-salgado/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bluemoonart.satx?igsh=MWJ4NzRiZTBjNnR3ZQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
