The artistic design of the Chicana/o Special License Plate was facilitated in a community-driven process initiated by a group of artists convened at renowned Chicano muralist Leo Tanguma’s house. The group of artists met on February 4th, 2023 for over 8 hours to discuss relevant histories, symbols, and representations relevant to the design of the plate. The list of artists involved intentionally varied in age (14-82), gender, geography, ethnicity, and identity. Artists who attended the 2/4/24 Chicana/o License Plate summit included: Leo Tanguma, Jeanne Tanguma, Tonio Lefebre, Michael Ramirez, Ray Jaramillo, Jerry Jaramillo, Anthony Maes, Larysa Medina, Diego Florez, Brenda Gurule, Renee Fajardo, Eric Sarracino, Alfredo Cardenas and his daughter.
Other artists also deeply contributed to the process, development, and artwork eventually displayed in the Chicana/o Special License Plate. These include: Cal Duran, Tayz Enriquez-Banuelos, and Anthony Garcia Sr.
Eventually, two artists were commissioned to draw and color the final design components of the Chicana/o Special License Plate. Larysa Medina, a 24 year old Chicana artist from Alamosa, Colorado, was commissioned to finalize the center decal of the plate. Her artwork, displaying two clasped brown hands surrounded by colors in a sarape design with two red roses at the bottom, represent unity, culture, and resilience. Anthony Garcia Sr., a world-renowned artist born and raised in Denver’s Globeville community, was commissioned to finalize the background colors behind the mountains on the license plate. His artwork, featuring beautiful sunset colors in a sarape design, represents Mexican, Indigenous, and Chicana/o identity.
