Enrique Chagoya

The Seven Deadly Sins and Utopías Coloniales

Enrique Chagoya juxtaposes secular, popular, and religious symbols, from both ancient and contemporary sources, to address the ongoing post-colonial clash between Western and non-Western cultures. This clash is no more apparent than in our current administration's response to the compounding issues facing the country—and the resulting pain, panic, and pandemonium.

As an immigrant and naturalized citizen, the tragic stories of death at the border between the U.S. and Mexico, with thousand of refugee families separated and detained in inhumane conditions, affected Chagoya deeply. This, hand in hand with the killing of George Floyd and the aftermath of mass protests, called for a response. Adding to this dramatic moment in history is the disproportionate ways the crisis affects Black and Latinx communities.

Like everyone in this country, Chagoya has also been affected by COVID-19. His studio on the Stanford University campus had been closed for months; the small works in The Seven Deadly Sins and Utopías Coloniales were completed while at home. And the show is purposefully installed in the gallery to insure a safe physical distance between people who might see the show in-person.

Chagoya uses popular cartoon characters as avatars for recognizable political characters and includes a couple of thrift store paintings to express with humor other serious issues. The exhibition focuses on some of these issues (with a sense of humor inspired by James Ensor’s version of The Seven Deadly Sins) as a way to help maintain some sanity.

Works in the Exhibition

Enrique Chagoya Everyone is an Alienigeno
Enrique Chagoya
Everyone is an Alienígeno
2018
Color lithograph and plastic eye stickers on handmade Amate paper
22 × 30 inches
Photography by 
Shark's Ink
Enrique Chagoya The President’s Xenophobic Nightmare in a Foreign Language
Enrique Chagoya
The President’s Xenophobic Nightmare in a Foreign Language
2018
Etching on copper, with digitally printed color
22 × 25 inches
Photography by 
Magnolia Editions
Enrique Chagoya The Seven Deadly Sins: Anger
Enrique Chagoya
The Seven Deadly Sins: Anger
2020
Acrylic and water mixable oil, with glass eyes collaged on canvas.
12 × 16 inches
Photography by 
Eugenio Castro
Enrique Chagoya The Seven Deadly Sins: Envy
Enrique Chagoya
The Seven Deadly Sins: Envy
2020
Acrylic and water mixable oil, with glass eyes collaged on canvas.
12 × 16 inches
Photography by 
Eugenio Castro
Enrique Chagoya The Seven Deadly Sins: Gluttony
Enrique Chagoya
The Seven Deadly Sins: Gluttony
2020
Acrylic and water mixable oil, with glass eyes collaged on canvas.
12 × 16 inches
Photography by 
Eugenio Castro
Enrique Chagoya The Seven Deadly Sins: Greed
Enrique Chagoya
The Seven Deadly Sins: Greed
2020
Acrylic and water mixable oil, with glass eyes collaged on canvas.
12 × 16 inches
Photography by 
Eugenio Castro
Enrique Chagoya The Seven Deadly Sins: Lust
Enrique Chagoya
The Seven Deadly Sins: Lust
2020
Acrylic and water mixable oil, with glass eyes collaged on canvas.
12 × 16 inches
Photography by 
Eugenio Castro
Enrique Chagoya The Seven Deadly Sins: Pride
Enrique Chagoya
The Seven Deadly Sins: Pride
2020
Acrylic and water mixable oil, with glass eyes collaged on canvas.
12 × 16 inches
Photography by 
Eugenio Castro
Enrique Chagoya The Seven Deadly Sins: Sloth
Enrique Chagoya
The Seven Deadly Sins: Sloth
2020
Acrylic and water mixable oil, with glass eyes collaged on canvas.
12 × 16 inches
Photography by 
Eugenio Castro
Enrique Chagoya Utopías Coloniales
Enrique Chagoya
Utopías Coloniales
2020
Acrylic, water mixable oil, photo transfers, wood sheet collage, paint blob collage, glass eyes collaged, and color pencil on handmade Amate paper.
11½ × 108 inches
Photography by 
Eugenio Castro
Enrique Chagoya World Backwards
Enrique Chagoya
World Backwards
2020
Water mixable oil on thrift store paintings
12 × 27½ inches
Photography by 
Eugenio Castro