“Fósil”: Chicano Art and Tribute to Mijangos
Eugenio Amézquita Velasco
– “Fósil” returns from Los Angeles to bring Chicano muralism and migrant culture to the streets of Celaya.
– On October 25, lowrider cars, catrinas, and customized bicycles will take over Tres Guerras with free admission.
– The collective “Los Muertos de California” will close the event with music and art from the Mexican diaspora.
– Fósil pays tribute to Maestro Eliseo Mijangos on his first death anniversary with live painting.
– “Art is collective,” says Fósil, calling to set aside ego and paint alongside the people of Celaya.
– Chicano culture is expanding from the U.S. to Japan and the Philippines, with Mexican aesthetics as its banner.
From the streets of Los Angeles to the heart of Celaya, muralist Gerardo Rivera Suaste, known as “Fósil,” returns with a cultural proposal that fuses Chicano art, migrant memory, and local tribute. In an interview, he announces a free event on October 25 at Tres Guerras, where lowrider cars, catrinas, and music will come together in a celebration of identity. He will also participate in a pictorial tribute to Maestro Eliseo Mijangos, highlighting the value of collective art. Fósil invites us to break taboos and build community through aerosol. Celaya becomes a hub of aesthetic resistance and cultural pride.
Exclusive Interview
Eugenio Amézquita Velasco:
Well, I’m here with none other than Don “Fósil.”
Gerardo Rivera Suaste "Fósil":
At your service, my friend.
Eugenio Amézquita Velasco:
Hey “Fósil,” thank you. What projects do you have coming up?
Gerardo Rivera Suaste "Fósil":
Where do I begin? We’ve got several things going on. We’re really happy to be spending this Day of the Dead season here in Mexico. Everyone knows about the migration phenomenon and the situation with ICE in Los Angeles. I was one of those cases—I had to return to take care of my visa.
I go there as a cultural promoter to bring the Catrinas. The last thing I did was some murals for Fairplex, the Los Angeles County Fair. It’s a venue visited by millions—check it out if you haven’t seen it.
We just got back recently, and I came for that reason and on the advice of several friends. The situation is tough; many migrants are still being deported. So this Chicano culture keeps growing. It’s not just happening in Los Angeles anymore—it’s expanding. Today, we see this love for Chicano culture even in countries like Japan and, as I saw in a documentary yesterday, the Philippines.
There are lowrider cars with Mexican art. They talk about how it’s spreading and how Mexico is gradually gaining importance in all artistic expressions—airbrushing, Catrinas with makeup, costumes, and all the innovation. It’s gone viral.
I have a video I invite you to check out on my YouTube channel, Fosilmuralista, or on Instagram. One of the Catrinas we did with Gus Mejía, a great photographer from L.A., has millions of views.
There are many collaborations I did last year that are just now being published. And what we’re bringing to Celaya is precisely that Chicano art scene. I’m bringing it here.
We’re bringing it—not just me. The Municipal Institute of Art and Culture is also strongly supporting the effort to bring a group called “Los Muertos de California.” They’re children of migrants, artists in the U.S. Their mother is from Veracruz, their father from Michoacán. They came to Celaya because they saw me painting Catrinas.
They invited me to join them. We recorded a video and so on. Like they said earlier in the conference—when it’s your time, it’s your time.
We closed the Hollywood Summer last year in L.A. with a band called Cypress Hill, one of the most recognized artists in the genre.
Entertainment industry. Stadium-level people. So we’re really happy. Always proud to say I’m from Celaya, from Guanajuato. And we’re doing something to make our culture seen positively abroad. So people see that even kids from the barrio, based on how we dress, aren’t bad people.
With an aerosol can, we’ve shown that you can make art, murals. And now we’re going to see it on October 25 at Tres Guerras. Everyone’s invited—free admission. To reconnect with Chicano culture. We’ll see dancing cars.
Mexicans have figured it out—it’s a Mexican-American creation. Mexicans who had the resources over there build these cars. They’re even making them in gold to export to Dubai. Imagine that—Mexicans are incredibly creative. Not just in art, but in mechanics, aesthetics, automotive design. And we’ll see them here in Celaya for the first time on October 25 at Tres Guerras.
All free. Customized bikes, Catrinas. It’ll be a sea of things to enjoy. And “Los Muertos de California” will close with their full musical trajectory. Everyone is warmly invited.
Eugenio Amézquita Velasco:
Free admission.
Gerardo Rivera Suaste "Fósil":
Free admission.
Eugenio Amézquita Velasco:
Great. We’re here at the moment you’re present for the first death anniversary of Maestro Eliseo Mijangos de Jesús. And you’ll be one of the artists participating in the live painting. It’s almost like a starting flag. A large group of artists will be creating work at that moment. What does Maestro Mijangos represent to you?
Gerardo Rivera Suaste "Fósil":
Wow, it’s a huge topic. For me, he was one of the people who truly motivated me. Not just in this realm, but spiritually—to affirm that my vocation as an artist, as a muralist, was not mistaken. Seeing him as an example. Seeing how he treated other artists. Seeing what everyone said about him—I completely agree: his humility, his simplicity.
His way of sharing knowledge. That’s something very important that not all artists have. Because, let’s be honest, many keep knowledge to themselves. Maybe because it was hard to obtain. But that wasn’t the case with him. On the contrary. He shared everything, gave you all the data. He saved you time with all his experience.
And for me, it’s very special to be part of the legacy he left. I’ve always said: honor to whom honor is due. And in this case, someone who chose to spend his final days in my homeland deserves all my honor, all my tribute. And of course, we’ll be there supporting this initiative.
Eugenio Amézquita Velasco:
Juanito Montoya mentioned something earlier. He said it off-camera, but I’m bringing it into the conversation. The issue of egos. We’re talking about a mural that could be collective. What do you think about the issue of egos among artists?
Gerardo Rivera Suaste "Fósil":
It’s something we need to mature in as artists. If we really want to transcend. We need to leave individualism behind and understand that art is collective.
Muralists like Siqueiros, Orozco, Diego, and all the others. Lina Arraso and all the other women. Frida Kahlo, etc. They taught us that part of the work is collective. That’s what gives aesthetic interest to a mural. In my case, I work a lot with the neighborhood.
And it’s a different feeling when you make the work alone versus when you let the community create it and you just coordinate. It’s another wonder, another magic of collective muralism. It’s the step of leaving ego behind and starting to work in a coordinated, collective way. Imagine if we all collaborated and left ego aside.
Just imagine it. And from imagining what could happen, it can become reality in the future. So I invite everyone to leave ego behind and let’s work together.
Eugenio Amézquita Velasco:
Anything else you’d like to add, “Fósil”?
Gerardo Rivera Suaste "Fósil":
Just thank you for the space. I’m really happy to see you again. A hug to all your audience. We hope you’ll join us. Let’s go with open eyes to break taboos in our minds. It’s a cultural topic we need to learn. They’re Mexicans too.
That’s right. And all of this will enrich us. In the end, it’s a cultural matter and it will enrich us, of course, so that Celaya is spoken of positively outside of Mexico and in other parts of the world. And that Celaya is at the forefront of this project. And that we can do something with Maestro Eliseo, which is something very important we’ll witness this weekend.
Eugenio Amézquita Velasco:
Live painting.
Gerardo Rivera Suaste "Fósil":
What can I say? Very happy and very grateful to you. To the people organizing this project. And we hope to see each other this weekend.
Eugenio Amézquita Velasco:
We send a shout-out to the crew, essseeee.
Gerardo Rivera Suaste "Fósil":
You got it, that’s right. Let them feel part of this, because art belongs to them too. Let them come, participate, get inspired. There’s talent in Celaya, there’s history, and there’s a future. See you all on October 25 at Tres Guerras. Don’t miss it!
Eugenio Amézquita Velasco:
Thank you, Fósil. And thanks to everyone who continues to believe in the power of art to transform, to unite, and to heal. This was Guanajuato Desconocido. Until next time.
Who Is Gerardo Rivera Suaste, “Fósil”?
Gerardo Rivera Suaste was born and raised in Celaya, Guanajuato, in an environment shaped by popular creativity and economic limitations. From a young age, he showed a strong interest in drawing, inspired by comic books from the 1980s and 1990s. Without access to formal artistic education, he began painting on the walls of his neighborhood, gathering local kids to create aerosol murals.
His motto ever since has been:
“With an aerosol can, you can also make mural art.”
Thanks to his self-taught talent, he earned scholarships to study art and won competitions at the municipal, state, national, and international levels, allowing him to professionalize and make a living through art.
Style and Techniques
Fósil works across a wide range of visual disciplines:
- Urban graffiti and muralism
- Automotive and textile airbrushing
- Body paint and artistic makeup (Catrinas)
- Thermochromic art and acrylic painting
His work is known for its vibrant aesthetic and strong symbolic content, blending elements of Chicano culture, Mexican folk art, and social critique. He has created everything from custom t-shirts to monumental murals, including phone case designs and theatrical costumes.
International Career
Fósil has taken his art to nine countries, including:
- United States: Murals at *Fairplex*, Los Angeles County Fair; collaborations with photographers like Gus Mejía; appearances at events such as *Hollywood Summer* alongside *Cypress Hill*
- Canada, Japan, UAE, and the Philippines: His visual style has influenced urban and automotive art movements, especially in *lowrider* culture featuring Mexican-themed designs
- Mexico: Active in fairs, festivals, and tributes in Celaya, San Miguel de Allende, Salvatierra, and other cities in the Bajío region
Artistic Philosophy
Fósil believes in art as a tool for social and community transformation. He advocates for collective muralism, where the public actively participates in creating public artworks. He rejects artistic ego and promotes collaboration as the foundation of authentic art.
“Imagine if we all collaborated and left ego behind. That could become a reality.”
Tributes and Activism
In 2025, Fósil took part in the first death anniversary tribute to Maestro Eliseo Mijangos de Jesús, painting live alongside fellow artists in Celaya. He also organized the event “Los Muertos de California,” where children of Mexican migrants living in the U.S. showcased music, art, and Chicano culture at the *Tres Guerras* venue.
Most Recent Activities
- Celaya Fair 2024–2025: Returned to his roots by selling hand-painted products like t-shirts and caricatures
- Airbrush and body paint workshops: Offers beginner and advanced courses in Celaya
- Exhibition “La Dulzura”: Participates as a collaborator in cultural events that promote local art and collective memory
Contact and Social Media
- Website: (https://mas.info/FosilArt)
- Instagram / YouTube: *Fosilmuralista*
- Email: fosilgerardo@gmail.com
- WhatsApp: +52 461 125 0281 #MetroNewsMx #GuanajuatoDesconocido
