Born in Jerez, Zacatecas, Mexico, Jesús Acuña studied art at the San Carlos Academy of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and Lill Street Gallery in Chicago.

 

Originally working as a painter and muralist, Acuña’s murals can be seen in a number of Chicago schools and parks. His paintings can also be found in private art collections and have been exhibited in numerous shows in both the United States and Mexico.

 

Acuña’s interest in a three-dimensional architectural perspective led him to explore sculpture and ceramics. He then trained in these media at Lill Street Gallery in Chicago, and his artwork now integrates organic shapes with architectural volumes.

 

Two main themes that run through his work, in different media, are migration and concern for the environment. Acuña’s desire to connect with people in the spaces they travel through led him to public art. “Public art is always awaiting its audience,” he says.