Inocente is a San Diego-based artist and activist. As a young child Inocente and her family immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico. After her father’s arrest and deportation from the U.S. for domestic violence, most of Inocente’s childhood was spent moving from one homeless shelter to the next. When Inocente was 12 years old, she discovered the power of art, and since then, she has been able to use the arts as a vehicle to rise above many great life challenges. Despite her sometimes bleak surroundings, Inocente’s brightly colored art represents a world of survival, love, and hope. Her story is the subject of the Oscar-winning film “INOCENTE,” which depicts her life and art at age 15. Inocente now supports herself as a professional artist and motivational speaker, while also working as an after-school art teacher. When people first see the film “INOCENTE,” they meet and fall in love with the 15-year-old version of the artist — homeless, confused, determined, hopeful, and hurt. But today, Inocente is 23 years old, just married, looking to purchase a new home, “something I never thought I’d be doing, let alone so early in life,” Inocente says. “I want this exhibition to be about hope and home, about hoping to finally find a permanent home with permanent people, a place to call my home.”
Art workshops, a film screening and exhibition of Inocente’s work were held at Listen Hear and Tube Factory artspace. You can view the photos here.
This was made possible by the Central Indiana Alliance Against Hate and The Clowes Fund Inc. Held in partnership with Heartland Film, who screened the Oscar winning documentary Inocente in 2016, CHIP Indianapolis and Immigrant Welcome Center.
