PROFILE

Luis Ituarte was born in Tijuana, Baja California Mexico. He studied high school in a Jesuit college in Mexico City. Luis later went to U.N.A.M.'s (Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico) Law School and San Carlos Art School; he was involved in the 1968 student movement (Tlaltelolco), which resulted in his exile to Nicaragua and Guatemala. He reassumed his studies in both law and art at the University of Guanajuato Mexico, where he worked with Mexican muralist Jose Chavez Morado and the Cultural Department of the University. In 1974 Ituarte immigrated to Canada and settled in Victoria, British Columbia, where he attended the Victoria College of the Arts and became a strong voice in support of the arts. He was a founding member of "Alley Art", a street art coalition. Ituarte in collaboration with the Greater Victoria Art Gallery started the program "Artists at City Hall" which he coordinated for 5 years. In 1988 Ituarte moved to Los Angeles California, where he has been: Director of Cultural Activities for The Olvera Street Merchants Association, art teacher at Plaza de la Raza and The Junior Arts Center, programs coordinator at the Lankershim Art Center and Director of Art in the Park with the city of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department. In addition he has been a producing artist and designer, art curator, and judge of many exhibits. Luis Ituarte is a founding member of the "Graffiti Arts Coalition", "Urbanos L.A." and "Consejo Fronterizo de Arte y Cultura" COFAC (border advisory for the arts and culture).