David Vincent Gonzales
b i o g r a p h y
David V. Gonzales was born on February 3, 1971 on a U.S. Air Force Base in Wiesbaden, Germany. He grew up in Santa Fe, N.M. enjoying the benefits of belonging to a large and closely knit extended family. His family has been well rooted in the area for 5 generations which include many well known artists, such as wood carver Ben Ortega and weavers Jose and Pedro Rodriguez from the Canyon Road District. “As far as I can remember, I have been working with art materials to create something based on my observation”
Photo courtesy of Adam Williams / Humanitou
It was evident in his youth that Gonzales was a gifted and talented artist. He attended St. Catherine’s Indian School in Santa Fe and began exhibiting his work at the young age of 12. By the time he was 17, his art was displayed in the Smithsonian and simultaneously received the New Mexico Governor’s Award. His art was on display in our Nation’s Capitol in Washington, D.C., as well as the Governor’s Mansion in Santa Fe, N.M. Gonzales received a full scholarship to the San Antonio Art Institute. His works have been included in several national museum traveling exhibits and an International exhibit where his works were displayed next to the artwork of Keith Haring who is famous for his contribution to the Pop Art Movement.
Gonzales’ early works reflects his heritage, rich in Native American and Hispanic cultural traditions, but quickly expanded to include many styles and a multitude of mediums. Using oils, acrylics, watercolors, pencils, pastels, wood, and bronze, Gonzales has created 2 and 3 dimensions ranging from photo realism to abstract.
In 1997 Gonzales moved to Colorado after falling in love with the small town of Manitou Springs and began to masterfully express his fascination with relative objects moving through time and space. It is this movement of related things that unifies his diverse body of work. It is what makes his art unique and easily recognizable. His work is not a static representation of a single moment; rather they are more like living entities with a past, present, and future, ever moving and unfolding. David V. Gonzales is the culmination of the artistic talent that has moved through his family for generations.
r e c e n t a w a r d s . d i s t i n c t i o n s :
Best Raw Artist . Awarded by the Pure Living Expo . Thousand Oaks . CA . 2014
A Top Award Winner . Endowed by Plein-Air Magazine at the National Museum of Wildlife Art . Jackson . WY . 2016
Awarded as “1 of the Top 10 Artists of the Year” through Redwood Media Group . OH . 2016 . 2017
21 st Annual Quick Draw Artist . Sale and Auction . Fall Arts Festival . Jackson Hole , WY . 2017. 2018
Awarded Best Commemorative Poster by the International Festivals & Events Association . 2017
Featured Artist of the Year . Selected by the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC and Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region . 2021
Official Poster Artist for:
USA Pro Challenge
International Vail Film Festival
Ullr Fest . Breckenridge . CO
Breckenridge International Snow Sculpture Championships . CO
Vision Relay National Cycling Race . Moab . UT
USA Cycling Hill Climb National Championships . CO
LOTOJA National Cycling Race . Logan, UT . Jackson Hole . WY
Pikes Peak Marathon/Ascent International Race . Manitou Springs . CO
29029 Everesting . UT
International Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Fiesta . Albuquerque . NM .
Education:
1990-1995 . Bachelor of Fine Arts
San Antonio, TX . Kansas City Art Institute, MO . University of Southern Colorado
Public and Private Collections:
Indian Arts Research Center . Santa Fe . NM
United States Bicycling Hall of Fame . Davis . CA
El Paso County Courthouse . Colorado Springs . CO
Manitou Springs Public Library . CO
Fountain Public Library . CO
Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum . CO
Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce . CO
Slovenia Embassy art collection . Washington DC
Gonzales' work has been part of national and international traveling exhibits and
is in numerous public and private collections internationally.