A new art exhibition has opened at The Gallery at City Hall, showcasing beautiful art that captures the essence of Arizona, Mexico and the American Southwest.

“Back and forth: Observaciones de la vida” highlights Mexican folk art and prints by Mexican-American artists, and it is part of the City of Phoenix art collection. The exhibition opened last Monday and features 34 works by 33 artists from the Southwest and Mexico.

The art comes from the City’s Mexican Folk Art Collection and the Movimiento Artistico del Rio Salado (M.A.R.S.) Mexican-American Print Series. This exhibition celebrates the diverse ways in which Mexican artists have been inspired by their heritage and culture.

The entire collection includes over 150 objects purchased or commissioned from Mexican artists in the early 1990s. The collection includes a variety of objects, including combs, masks, ceramics, candelabras, tapestries and much more.

The exhibition showcases the importance of the Chicano influence in contemporary art, and the public is invited to see for themselves at the Gallery, located on the ground floor at City Hall. Volunteers run and operate the Gallery, which is supported by private contributions from local residents and businesses.

The Phoenix Public Art Program celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2016. For more information on Observaciones de la Vida and upcoming releases at the Gallery, visit the Office of Arts and Culture website.