Rio Diaz is a painter, curator, writer, and poet recognized for merging artistic innovation with community engagement. Her murals transform spaces into vibrant canvases that inspire both students and local communities.

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Under the leadership of Judy Baca, Rio serves as curator, sketch artist, senior painter, and team coordinator for the half-mile expansion of The Great Wall of Los Angeles. At LACMA’s landmark exhibition Judy Baca: Painting in the River of Angels, her exhibition design transformed the Resnick Pavilion into a living studio, where over 200,000 visitors witnessed nearly 2,000 square feet of mural painted live.

 

As curator of both the Durón Gallery and SPARC at Bergamot, Rio oversees exhibitions chronicling the ongoing progress of The Great Wall of Los Angeles until its anticipated completion in Spring 2028. Her curatorial work amplifies underrepresented voices, with exhibitions presented at UCLA, Frank Pictures at Bergamot Station, the Venice Family Clinic, SPARC, and the Jeffrey Deitch Gallery—where her painting and curatorial leadership contributed to a project recognized by Art News as one of the 25 most important works of 2023.

 

Rio’s murals resonate deeply with the communities they serve, weaving together vivid colors, cultural narratives, and powerful storytelling. Her easel works have been exhibited at Santa Clarita City Hall, MECA in Houston, Brimmer Street, and SUR: Biennale. She has also collaborated with iconic artists Kent Twitchell and Yolanda Gonzalez, leading the restoration of their renowned Los Angeles murals.

 

Continually pushing the boundaries of contemporary art, Rio blends creativity with a profound understanding of community dynamics, reshaping the artistic landscape with vision and purpose.