Leticia Tanguma: Community Based Art in Action

By Kateri Kramer (Art Restart Administrative Coordinator)

I first met Leticia Tanguma after working with the Writers Group when she was exhibiting her mural project at Regis University. Her hands were splattered with paint and it was easy to see that they were at ease holding a paintbrush. She spoke eloquently and passionately about how important art is to her own life, and how necessary it is in our communities.

In 1998 Leti came to The Gathering Place after finding a voucher that enabled her get  glasses for her children. That same day she saw signs for The Card Project and has been participating in TGP’s art programs ever since. Her artwork is a client favorite in Art Restart, TGP’s social enterprise that provides bulk greeting cards to businesses and individuals.

Leti exudes creativity and her artwork is suffused with passion and purpose. Her father, Leo Tanguma, one of Denver’s most prominent and well known muralist, fostered her love of art at a young age. She began taking art more seriously in her early 20’s and knew from her father’s work that she too could make statements through her own creations.

Much of Leti’s work brings issues of social justice to the forefront, whether it is the mural project that documents the domestic abuse women face on a daily basis, or the pieces that she is exhibiting at the Denver Art Museum that encourage conversations about homelessness and sex trafficking. “I draw inspiration from people, our shared universal struggles and hopes in life” Leti explains. “Art programs at TGP have become very important to me. The staff and members are inspiring and it’s nice to have fellow artists to work with and be around. That makes a big difference.” 

Leti continues to inspire the Denver artist community. She will be exhibiting her art demonstrating her craft at The Denver Art Museum this weekend, April 23-24 in the paint studio in the Hamilton Building. The first piece features a character in a story Leti is writing about immigration, sex trafficking, and child abuse. She hopes that the second piece, inspired by the “Stop The Homeless Sweep” campaign, will open up conversation about homelessness.  Leti will be available to answer questions and demonstrate techniques from 12:00-3:00pm on both Saturday and Sunday.