Momentos

In his latest body of work, Momentos, Hector Del Campo celebrates his heritage as a First Generation Cuban American through pieces inspired by childhood memories and meaningful life experiences. This exhibit features mixed media collages and paintings that include personal keepsakes from his youth, offering a reflection of his culture, family history, and identity. 

Hector was born in Tampa, Florida, and recalls creating artwork since he was a child — using pencils and crayons, and anything he could get his hands on. As an adult throughout his professional career, he works with a broader array of materials, including enamel and acrylic paints, wax sticks, and spray paint, though he still taps into the basic materials that originally fueled his childhood creativity. Reflecting on his process, he mentions, "In most works I've begun with a foundation to showcase my Caribbean colors and sentiments." Throughout his works, he embraces a wide range of materials, weaving family history and cultural traditions into each piece through the inclusion of birthday cards, old photographs, and childhood toys.

Every work in Momentos tells a story that connects to Hector's family, and he hopes that viewers will find an intimate connection through the titles. Several pieces feature titles in both Spanish and English, honoring his family's language while also making his work accessible to non-Spanish-speaking audiences. Memorias de la Navidad captures the vibrant energy of urban neighborhoods through layers of enamel and spray paint atop a vinyl record that Hector listened to while growing up. 

A difficulty Hector faced in producing this show was parting with his possessions to incorporate them into a painting. Although bittersweet, he added, "I realized the possessions still live, just in a different format." While visiting this exhibit, Hector hopes that viewers will experience his passionate bond to the Caribbean island that has shaped his life. His goal in this body of work is "to inspire viewers and show them a part of my family and culture that they didn't know before."