Vincent Valdez has been named the first Artist-in-Residence at the Alamo Colleges District for the 2025–2026 academic year. This appointment follows the creation of the Alamo Colleges District Visual and Performing Arts Commission, which aims to enhance access to arts education.
Valdez, a San Antonio native, is recognized for his large-scale paintings that merge historical techniques with modern themes. His work often addresses contemporary life and social issues. During his residency, Valdez will engage students and community members through learning experiences designed to foster critical thinking and encourage dialogue in the arts. The Texas Commission for the Arts is providing support for part of this residency.
“I look forward to engaging with the Alamo Colleges District community, faculty, and students. This partnership offers an important opportunity– an exchange of ideas, personal stories, social histories, in a moment when building community and supporting our youth matters most,” Valdez said.
Valdez’s career includes awards such as the Ford and Mellon Foundations Latinx Artist Fellowship in 2022 and a Joan Mitchell Foundation Grant in 2016. He has completed residencies at several institutions including Skowhegan School of Painting and Vermont Studio Center. His artwork is included in collections at institutions like the Smithsonian Museum of American Art and The Museum of Fine Arts Houston.
The residency will involve classroom visits, student talks, guest lectures, studio sessions, and discussions throughout both semesters across all campuses within the district. Valdez will also prepare an exhibition for summer 2026 at Common Ground Gallery at ACCESS. The exhibition will feature new works honoring his late great-grandfather. Additional public programs are planned around this event, including an artist talk and a panel discussion involving local artists, scholars, and students.
In April 2026, Valdez is scheduled to be keynote speaker at the Alamo Colleges District Visual and Performing Arts Summit.
