Chico Mexican American artist Brandon Hernandez shows his wood piece depicting a rooster with a dog’s head Friday, March 15, 2024 in Chico, California. (Jennie Blevins/Enterprise-Record)
CHICO — Chico artist Brandon Hernandez’s printmaking is a testament to his cultural history.
“I love printmaking because it’s a very hands on process,” Hernandez said. He said his work represents shape shifters from Mexican folklore which discourage children from doing bad things.
Hernandez graduated from Chico State in May 2023 with a bachelor of fine arts in printmaking. He currently works as a collections assistant at the Janet Turner Print Museum at Chico State.
He makes the prints on wood and then they are transferred to paper. He studied graphic design originally in college but wasn’t happy with it, so an art teacher suggested print making to him. The rest is history.
Hernandez’s work is currently displayed at Plumas Bank at 900 Mangrove Avenue. The Museum of Northern California Art has a partnership with the bank to promote local artists and their artwork. The artwork will be updated every four months all year long so different artists can have their work displayed. Monca Executive Director Pat Macias asked him to exhibit his work at the bank.
Hernandez is a second-generation Mexican American printmaker artist. He reminisced on the Mexican folktale of the Nagual/Nahual which were told during family gatherings. His work explores the culture of diaspora through a visual narrative of his family’s immigration to the United States, according to a press release.
Plumas Bank has seven of Hernandez’s original prints in the branch lobby. Community members can stop by the bank from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. any weekday the bank is open to see the prints. Learn more about Plumas Bank’s Chico branch at plumasbank.com/chico. Also on permanent display are fine art landscape prints on metal by Paradise artist Jeremy Vesley and Plumas Bank’s featured outdoor mural by Chico artist Dylan Tellesen.
Hernandez decided to come to Chico so he could study at Chico State.
“I like to express myself and connect to people,” he said.
One of his current wood pieces is a rooster with a dog’s head. He combined the two because he enjoys dogs and roosters represent the masculine side of himself.
“Monca thrives on its community outreach and collaborations, and our new connection with Plumas Bank tops them all,” said Macias. “Through our partnership, we are able to showcase creative Chico artists for the bank audience and staff, changing every few months.”
Hernandez can be found on Instagram under @bah_printmaker_.
