Artwork
Freeway Wars
Artist
Frank Romero
(American, born 1941)
DepartmentContemporary Art
Date1990
MediumScreen print
Dimensions31 1/2 x 38 in. (80 x 96.5 cm)
Credit LineSan Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Ricardo and Harriett Romo
Object number2012.31.37
Copyright© Frank Romero
DescriptionTwo cars passing each other on the freeway, the passengers shooting at each other's car.Label TextAs two vehicles navigate a curving freeway, men bearing handguns reach out of the car windows. The bullets' trajectory, rendered with playful absurdity, make the pistols appear like water guns. Despite the artist’s cartoon-like style and bright colors, ‘Freeway Wars’ depicts the gritty reality of gang violence in Los Angeles. Frank Romero was a founder of the pioneering Chicano art collective Los Four in the 1970s. Drawing upon his experience growing up in East Los Angeles, Chicano culture and LA car culture are prominent themes in his work.
Dos vehículos avanzan por una autopista curva y unos hombres con pistolas se asoman por las ventanas del auto. La trayectoria de las balas, representada de una manera absurda y juguetona, hace que las armas parezcan pistolas de agua. A pesar del estilo caricaturesco del artista y los colores brillantes, ‘Guerras en la Autopista’ representa la cruda realidad de la violencia de pandillas en Los Ángeles. Frank Romero fue uno de los fundadores del influyente colectivo de arte chicano Los Four en la década de 1970. Al inspirarse en su niñez en el este de Los Ángeles, la cultura chicana y la cultura automovilística de Los Ángeles son temas prominentes en su obra.
(LSM, 2024)
Markings1/10 PubNot on view
Collections
The San Antonio Museum of Art is in the process of digitizing its permanent collection. This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect SAMA's complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of such records is ongoing.
This resource has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.
