Hand-Painted Chest of Drawers
Artist: Cornelio Campos (Purépecha)
Location: Durham
Materials: Mixed woods and modern acrylic paint
Original Date: circa 1930
Painted Date: 2023
About the Artwork
This vibrant chest of drawers began as an old, discarded piece of furniture from a thrift store before being transformed by artist Cornelio Campos into a stunning visual narrative. The painted surface depicts the history of Campos's family migration from Cherán, Michoacán, Mexico, to North Carolina.
The artwork features:
- Sweeping landscapes representing the journey from Mexico,
- Religious symbolism reflecting cultural heritage
- Family history told through visual storytelling
- Bright colors celebrating both past and present.
About the Artist
Cornelio Campos was the first Latino artist to receive a North Carolina Heritage Award in June 2023. He and his family immigrated from Mexico to North Carolina. Campos now lives in Durham. Campos is both Mexican and a member of the Indigenous Mexican Purépecha community. He incorporates cultural, religious, social, and meaningful symbols relating to his family’s past, as well as their present home in North Carolina, into his work. He uses these motifs with the goal of starting a conversation with his art.