Jesse Sifuentes
Painter, sculptor, and muralist Jesse Sifuentes was born in Kingsville in 1954. He grew up in Galveston and with the benefit of a scholarship from the Moody Foundation, moved to Houston to attend Texas Southern University on the advice of Mignon Weisenger (1925-2001), his art teacher at Ball High School. He arrived at TSU in 1973 as one of only two Latino students; off-campus he was among those who assisted Leo Tanguma during the painting of the now-legendary mural The Rebirth of Our Nationality on Canal Street in the East End. Sifuentes received his BFA from TSU in 1978 and his MFA from University of Houston in 1989. Early exhibitions included such East End venues as the Chicano Arts Gallery (1978) and Ripley House (1980). Since the 1990s, Sifuentes has created a number of murals around the city, often with collaborators or student support, including sites in Engrando Park (2001); Mason Park (2001); Juan Sequin Elementary School (2002); Fonde Recreation Center (2004); Ripley House (2012); and the Heritage Society (2018) as well as for commercial businesses including the Cash Advance Pawn Shop (2001), Starbucks (2012), and Simon’s Men’s Wear (2012). A 2014 mural at 3130 Navigation was part of the Houston Arts Alliance’s Transported and Renewed initiative. Sifuentes also has a long history as an educator. Beginning in 1980, he taught at Scroggins Elementary (1980-1985); at Albert Thomas Jr. High School (1985-1996); at Stephen F. Austin High School (1996-2007); and since 2007 as adjunct art professor at his alma mater of Texas Southern University.