Gerald Lovato, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Education
2025 Master of Arts (Candidate)
University of Wyoming (UW), Laramie, WY
Concentrations: American Studies
2022 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Summa Cum Laude
The University of New Mexico (UNM), Albuquerque, NM
Concentrations: Painting and Photography
Minor: Arts Business and Leadership
2019 Associate of Arts
Central New Mexico Community College (CNM), Albuquerque, NM
Concentrations: Art Studio, General Studies
Additional coursework
2024 IRB Basic Course – Human Subjects Research Certificate
CITI Program, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Mental Health First Aid Certificate
National Council for Mental Wellbeing, Washington DC
Oral History Certification
Voces Oral History Institute Summer Workshop, University of Texas Austin, Austin, TX
2014-2016 Painting
San Diego Art Academy, San Diego, CA
2000-2002 Business Graphics
Technical Vocational Institute (formally CNM), Albuquerque, NM
Artist Residency
2025 Jentel Artist Residency, Banner, WY
Professional Experience
2023-present Curatorial Assistant, UW Art Museum
Graduate Assistant, UW American Studies Department
Grant Panelist, TourWest Grant, Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF)
2022-2023 Creative Executive, Syndicate Media
2017-2022 Creative Director, Monstully LLC., Association Management Company
2021 Social Media Content Creator, Anderson Abruzzo International Balloon Museum
2012-2016 Graphic Designer, SOS Design and Print Studio
2004-2013 Professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Fighter & Instructor , FIT NHB Fight Gym
2002-2006 Vice President, Rio Grande Herb Company Inc.
Volunteer
2024 President, KOCA 93.5 La Radio Montañesa-Voz de la gente, Laramie, WY
Student Chair, Rocky Mountain Chapter, American Studies Association (RMASA)
President, UW Martial Arts, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY
Member, UW Graduate Student Task Force Committee, Laramie, WY
Member, UW Graduate Student Network, Laramie, WY
Member, MEChA Latinx, The University of Wyoming, Laramie WY
Member, UW Student Art League, Laramie WY
2021-2022 Unhoused Community Street Team, Who I Am Foundation, Albuquerque, NM
2008-2009 Youth Mentor, YDI Mentoring Program, Albuquerque, NM
2006-2013 Youth Coach, FIT KIDZ Mixed Martial Arts, Albuquerque, NM
Publications
2023 Burque Unite: Exhibition Catalogue. Lovato, Gerald. Blurb, ISBM 9798211626683
2004 Herb Booklet: A Quick Reference Booklet of Traditional Herbal Remedies
Rio Grande Herb Company, Albuquerque, NM
Awards/ Grants/ Fellowships
2024-25 National Leaders of Color Fellowship, Creative West (formerly WESTAF), Denver, CO
2024 UW Arts & Sciences Dean’s Graduate Scholar Award, Laramie, WY
Community Arts Award Sponsorship, UW Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Arts Event Sponsorship, UW Art Department, Laramie, WY
2023-2025 Dean’s List, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY
2023 Community Arts Sponsorship, Project Paseo, Taos, NM
2022 Honors Thesis, Highest Honors Award, UNM College of Fine Arts
Community Arts Grant, Bernalillo County District 3, Commissioner Adrianne Barboa
Community Event Sponsorship, Nusenda, Albuquerque, NM
Raza Excellence Award, El Centro de la Raza, UNM, Albuquerque, NM
Jose C. Teran (NARET) Scholarship, UNM, Albuquerque, NM
New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship, UNM, Albuquerque, NM
McConnell Discretionary Endowment Scholarship, UNM, Albuquerque, NM
Endowment Scholarship, UNM, Albuquerque, NM
2021 Inducted Member, National Society of Leadership and Success, Miami, FL
2020-2022 Deans List, UNM College of Fine Arts, Albuquerque, NM
2018-2019 Deans List, CNM Community College, Albuquerque, NM
2006 SWKA Kickboxing Champion, South West Kickboxing Association, Las Cruces, NM
2005 FWMMA Champion, Fightworld Mixed Martial Arts, Albuquerque, NM
Curated Exhibitions
2025 Silent Voices: Exploring Mental Health and Suicide through the Museum Collections, University of Wyoming Art Museum, Laramie, WY
2024 Diversity Unveiled: An American Mosaic, Cooper House Mansion, Laramie, WY
Solo Exhibitions
2025 Wyoming Unite: A Study of Suicide in Wyoming, University of Wyoming Art Museum
2022 Burque Unite: UNM Honors Thesis Exhibition, Orpheum Community Hub, Albuquerque, NM
Group Exhibitions
2024 Cheyenne Hispanic Festival, Cheyenne Train Depot Museum, Cheyenne, WY
Paño Connections: Corazon Knows No Bounds
National Hispanic Cultural Center Art Museum, Albuquerque, NM
Diversity Unveiled: An American Mosaic,
University of Wyoming, Cooper House Mansion, Laramie, WY
Neltje Soup, SOK Gallery, Laramie, WY
2023 Taos Unite, Millicent Rogers Museum, Taos, NM
2022 Against the White Cube, John Sommers Gallery, Albuquerque, NM
7th Annual Albuquerque Celebrates Recovery, El Chante Art Gallery, Albuquerque, NM
Son de Allá y Son de Acá, Tortuga Gallery, Albuquerque, NM
2020 Windows of Harvard: Art from our Community, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Permanent Public Collections
Rebel Cowboy Self Portrait, Gerald Lovato, UW American Studies Department, Laramie, WY
Bridge, Gerald Lovato, Chicano Park Museum, San Diego, CA
Queso, Gerald Lovato, Chicano Park Museum, San Diego, CA
Performances & Happenings
2022 Fighting Shadows, UW Art Museum, Laramie, WY
2022 Fight for Change, Burque Unite, Orpheum Community Hub, Albuquerque, NM
2019 Don’t Shoot Part 3, CNM Community College, Art Department, Albuquerque, NM
Presentations
2024 In-Care-Ceration: Mental and Behavioral Healthcare and the Expansion of Jails and
Prisons, Panel Discussion,Critical Prison Studies Caucus,
American Studies Association Annual Conference, Baltimore, MD
Leadership in Carceral Spaces, Guest Speaker, Wyoming Pathways From Prison, Laramie, WY
Paño Connections: Corazon Knows No Bounds,
Panel Presentation, National Hispanic Cultural Center Art Museum, Albuquerque, NM
Solidarity Through Art, National Association of Chicana Chicano Studies Conference,
San Francisco, CA
Artivsm, Artist Talk, University of Wyoming Art Department, Art Theory course, Laramie, WY
Sometimes You Have to Go First, Keynote,Eastern New Mexico University, Portales, NM
2023 Taos Unite, Keynote Presentation, Millicent Rogers Museum, Taos, NM
2022 Burque Unite, Community Facilitator, Orpheum Community Hub, Albuquerque, NM
Second Chances, Re-entry Facilitator, Dismas House, Albuquerque, NM
2021 Guns Down, Stop the Violence, Guest Speaker, Civic Plaza, Albuquerque, NM
2008 Transformation, Graduation Speaker, Camino Nuevo Youth Center, Albuquerque, NM
Film
2024 Burque Unite Documentary Film (Unreleased), Albuquerque, NM
Media Coverage
2024 Abrams, Katy, “Art Exhibition Elevates Diversity.” Insight Into Diversity, May 28, 2024. https://www.insightintodiversity.com/art-exhibition-elevates-diversity/.
2024 Mullen, Maggie, “Student-led UW art exhibit aims to deepen diversity, equity, and inclusion conversation” WYO File, https://wyofile.com/student-led-uw-art-exhibit-aims-to-deepen-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-conversation/
2023 Testerman, Tamra, “#TaosUnite at Millicent Rogers Museum”, https://www.taosnews.com/tempo/arts/taosunite-at-millicent-rogers-museum/article_b4007574-f4d2-11ed-b153-ef44206412f7.html
2023 Clark, Carol A., “UNM-Taos Chicana/o Studies Students Present #TaosUnite Exhibition & ‘Taos Unites Today!’ Day Of Programs At Millicent Rogers Museum, https://ladailypost.com/unm-taos-chicana-o-studies-students-present-taosunite-exhibition-taos-unites-today-day-of-programs-at-millicent-rogers-museum/
2022 Vargas, Noah. “Episode 75 – Gerald Lovato, Only Kings Podcast”, December 3, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy43tFmSUXM
2022 King, Mary Beth. “CFA student uses art to heal trauma” UNM Undergraduate Research, Arts & Design Network, December 15, 2022. ‘CFA student uses art to heal trauma’, UNM Undergraduate Research, Arts & Design Network
2022 Johnny James. “Burque Unite | Respect the Connect EP. 20.” YouTube, October 11, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JehMoGsuZMM&t=36s
2022 King, Mary Beth. “Fine Arts graduate finds healing power of art” UNM Newsroom, December 13, 2022. ‘Fine Arts graduate finds healing power of art’, UNM Newsroom
2022 Kahn, Hamilton. “Burque Unite’ shows creative path through city woes” KOAT Action News 7, October 29, 2022. ‘Burque Unite’ exhibit (koat.com)
2022 Willis, George. “Albuquerque artist: ‘Suicide, gun violence, and fentanyl is killing our people” New Mexico Sun, October 29, 2022. Albuquerque artist: ‘Suicide, gun violence, fentanyl is killing our people’ | New Mexico Sun
2022 King, Mary Beth. “Honors thesis helps artist, community heal from trauma” UNM Newsroom, October 26, 2022. Honors thesis helps artist, community heal from trauma – UNM Newsroom
2022 Costello, Brittany. “Local artist hopes to spark change with interactive art exhibition” KOB 4 NEWS, October 24, 2022 Local artist hopes to spark change with interactive art exhibition – KOB.com
2022 Ward, Josiah. “Fighter Turned Artist Promotes Community and Healing with New Exhibition” The Paper, October 19, 2022. Fighter Turned Artist Promotes Community and Healing With New Exhibition – The Paper. (abq.news)
2022 Frankl, Mika. “Gerald Lovato is Fighting for Burque” Caged Minds, October 6, 2022
Gerald Lovato is Fighting for Burque – (cagedminds.com)
2019 Rael, Ally, and Madison Spratto. “Don’t Shoot’ —Art provokes student reactions” New Mexican News Port, May 8, 2019. “Don’t Shoot” — Art provokes student reactions – New Mexico News Port
Portfolio