Art Resistance: Protest as Protection

Protest as Protection / The Art of Resistance is a group exhibition curated by Adriana Arriaga and Rafael Perea de la Cabada that highlights the strength, creativity, and resilience present within the Mexican and Mexican American communities. This engaging display features artists such as Helen Yanez, Vero Sanchez, Juana Martinez, Elisa Torres, Gabriela Leon, and Adriana La Artista, all of whom utilize their work as a form of social justice art. The exhibition delves into how art serves as a potent tool for protest, healing, and transformation. Through striking imagery and messages of solidarity, every piece illustrates the courage found in immigrant communities and the lasting spirit of cultural resistance. This exhibition stands as a vibrant celebration of identity, unity, and the transformative power of the Art of Resistance.  

Presented by Oxnard Performing Art Center

In 2023, Adriana Arriaga served as co-curator alongside Barbara Parmet for “Resistance & Resilience: Art for the People” at the Arts Fund of Santa Barbara. This powerful exhibition emphasized the Art of Resistance, showcasing artists whose work delves into themes of social justice art, identity, and collective healing through creative expression. By curating pieces that reflect both struggle and strength, the show amplified diverse community voices and celebrated art as a tool for activism and empowerment, often framed as Protest as Protection. The exhibition reinforced Santa Barbara’s role as a hub for meaningful, socially engaged art that inspires dialogue and change.