For this special edition of Art Buzz, join us in celebrating Tierra Sagrada: L.A. is an Altar and an Offering—an exhibition catalogue published in conjunction with the Fellows of Contemporary Art 2025 Curators Lab exhibition of the same name. Tierra Sagrada, which was on view at the FOCA exhibition space from September 20-November 22, 2025, examined the relationship between placemaking and the sacred, centering the city of Los Angeles and its Latinx diasporas. Co-curated by Isabella Aguilar-Rosil and Emilia Shaffer-Del Valle, the exhibition featured artists Susan Aparicio, Lizette Hernández, Star Montana, Libbi Ponce, and Claudia V. Solórzano. With original texts by the co-curators as well as new contributions from each artist, this fully illustrated publication both documents and expands upon the themes explored in the show.
For this special edition of Art Buzz, join us in celebrating Tierra Sagrada: L.A. is an Altar and an Offering—an exhibition catalogue published in conjunction with the Fellows of Contemporary Art 2025 Curators Lab exhibition of the same name. Tierra Sagrada, which was on view at the FOCA exhibition space from September 20-November 22, 2025, examined the relationship between placemaking and the sacred, centering the city of Los Angeles and its Latinx diasporas. Co-curated by Isabella Aguilar-Rosil and Emilia Shaffer-Del Valle, the exhibition featured artists Susan Aparicio, Lizette Hernández, Star Montana, Libbi Ponce, and Claudia V. Solórzano. With original texts by the co-curators as well as new contributions from each artist, this fully illustrated publication both documents and expands upon the themes explored in the show.
The event will include a program of readings and short films by Isabella Aguilar-Rosil, Emilia Shaffer-Del Valle, Lizette Hernández, Susan Aparicio and Star Montana, followed by light refreshments.
Books and limited edition t-shirts will be available for purchase.
Susan Aparicio is a southeast LA native and a visual artist playing in the mediums of stained glass, experimental video, and site-specific installation. Her work melds the vibrancy of Latinidad and pop culture with the heartache and sense of humor that raised her in Los Angeles, in the age of the internet. She earned dual BA degrees in Studio Art and Cognitive Science from the University of Virginia in 2018. She then earned her MFA in Art from UCLA in 2022. She is currently based in Pasadena, CA.
Susan Aparicio is a southeast LA native and a visual artist playing in the mediums of stained glass, experimental video, and site-specific installation. Her work melds the vibrancy of Latinidad and pop culture with the heartache and sense of humor that raised her in Los Angeles, in the age of the internet. She earned dual BA degrees in Studio Art and Cognitive Science from the University of Virginia in 2018. She then earned her MFA in Art from UCLA in 2022. She is currently based in Pasadena, CA.
Lizette Hernández is a first-generation Mexican-American artist primarily working in sculpture. Through a collaboration with clay, she is led by listening to the land and investigates expressions of inheritance and regeneration. Hernández explores the ideology of deep ecology by highlighting the intersections of floral anatomies, religious iconography and ritual practices of remembrance. Her process embraces tradition along with experimentation by use of plant matter with pit firing, Raku and fusing elements such as recycled glass. She received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Lizette Hernández is a first-generation Mexican-American artist primarily working in sculpture. Through a collaboration with clay, she is led by listening to the land and investigates expressions of inheritance and regeneration. Hernández explores the ideology of deep ecology by highlighting the intersections of floral anatomies, religious iconography and ritual practices of remembrance. Her process embraces tradition along with experimentation by use of plant matter with pit firing, Raku and fusing elements such as recycled glass. She received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Star Montana is a photo-based artist who lives and works in Los Angeles, CA. She was born and raised in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of East Los Angeles, which is predominantly Mexican American and serves as the backdrop to much of her work. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Art from the University of Southern California, a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from the School of Visual Arts, and an Associate of Arts in Photography from East Los Angeles College.
Star Montana is a photo-based artist who lives and works in Los Angeles, CA. She was born and raised in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of East Los Angeles, which is predominantly Mexican American and serves as the backdrop to much of her work. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Art from the University of Southern California, a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from the School of Visual Arts, and an Associate of Arts in Photography from East Los Angeles College.
Isabella Aguilar-Rosil (she/them/ella) is a first-generation curator from Los Angeles whose work engages spirituality, archival practices, and placemaking within contemporary art. She has held curatorial roles at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and the Whitney Museum of American Art. She graduated from UCLA in 2020 with a degree in Chicanx and Central American Studies, followed by an MA in Museum Studies from New York University. She currently serves as the Director’s Office and Artist Residency Coordinator at ICA LA.
Isabella Aguilar-Rosil (she/them/ella) is a first-generation curator from Los Angeles whose work engages spirituality, archival practices, and placemaking within contemporary art. She has held curatorial roles at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and the Whitney Museum of American Art. She graduated from UCLA in 2020 with a degree in Chicanx and Central American Studies, followed by an MA in Museum Studies from New York University. She currently serves as the Director’s Office and Artist Residency Coordinator at ICA LA.
Emilia Shaffer-Del Valle is a curator whose research centers decolonial notions of selfhood and community, with a focus on image (un)making, language, and reimaginations of archival practice. Shaffer-Del Valle received her BA from Columbia University and her MA in Visual & Critical Studies from California College of the Arts. She currently serves as the Curatorial Associate at ICA LA. She was born and raised in Los Angeles.
Emilia Shaffer-Del Valle is a curator whose research centers decolonial notions of selfhood and community, with a focus on image (un)making, language, and reimaginations of archival practice. Shaffer-Del Valle received her BA from Columbia University and her MA in Visual & Critical Studies from California College of the Arts. She currently serves as the Curatorial Associate at ICA LA. She was born and raised in Los Angeles.