Vincent Valdez

Pride of the Southside, 2004, pastel on paper, 59 in x 36 in

In Pride of the Southside, Valdez depicts his brother as a boxer in active pose. The Southside neighborhood is in the background with a glowing sunset that fills the entire picture with a dark and sensual mood. There are several pictorial elements central to Chicano iconography in the work: the roses, the title painted on the actual work, the tattoos and gold chain, and the way the sun is depicted can almost be a Mexican or Aztec reference. Pride of the Southside is really a mesmerizing portrait of more than just his brother, it is a portrait of his neighborhood. The dynamic stance of the boxer, the palette and the layout of the composition creates a captivating experience for viewers.