Martín Moreno

Martin Moreno, a native of Adrian, Michigan, grew up immersed in two worlds—speaking Spanish at home and English at school. The son of hardworking parents employed in agricultural fields and industrial foundries, Moreno draws deep inspiration from his upbringing. His art reflects the vivid memories of childhood: the visual rhythm of crops passing by from the back of a pickup truck, as well as the stories passed down by elders—tales of La Llorona, the Earth, and ancestral glories. These formative experiences live on in his murals, sculptures, paintings, and mosaics.

Moreno earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Siena Heights University. A passionate advocate for community arts, he is a founding and former board member of ALAC (Arizona Latin@ Arts and Cultural Center), the first Latino cultural institution in the state. He was among 12 artists selected for Locals Only at Phoenix Art Museum (2009)—the Museum’s first exhibition dedicated exclusively to Chicano/Latino artists that marked a significant milestone in Arizona’s cultural history. In 2011, Moreno received the prestigious Arizona Governor’s Artist of the Year award, a statewide honor recognizing excellence across artistic disciplines. His lifelong dedication to public art and cultural heritage continues to shape Arizona’s creative landscape.

Image Credit: Photo courtesy of Sylvia Hernandez-Moreno.