Multi-media artist Thomas Vigil has been working with spray paint and stencils for as long as he can remember. As a teenager growing up in Española, Vigil’s main artistic outlet was graffiti, but due to his Catholic upbringing, he felt bombarded by the pressures and expectations of a rigid devotional art world. Though Vigil says the churches adorned in New Mexican and Spanish Colonial artwork enthralled and inspired him, he ultimately began to develop his own path and creative style.
Vigil took part in numerous exhibits in the years that followed, but having his work displayed in the Gen Next: Future So Bright exhibit at the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art in 2018, he says, gave him a much-needed boost. Now, in 2024, with a unique style and a career on the rise, Vigil shows regularly at EVOKE Contemporary in the Railyard. This weekend, he’ll even host a special demonstration at the gallery dubbed Thomas Vigil: Santero from the Streets to provide a glimpse into his unique and complex creative processes (1 pm, Saturday, Aug. 3. Free. Evoke Contemporary, 500 S Guadalupe St., (505) 995-9902). SFR spoke with Vigil to gain insight into his world. This interview has been edited for clarity and concision. (Adam Ferguson)
You’ve described yourself as a lowbrow artist. What does that mean to you exactly?
To me, lowbrow is more outsider art. I’ve always felt that way as an aerosol artist. When I was showing my work in the Spanish Market, people would stop and walk into my booth because what I did caught their eye, but as soon as I explained to them that my work was done with spray paint, they were almost disgusted by it and would immediately walk out. I don’t know why, but spray paint is kind of classified as this outsider or rebellious art form. But it has changed over the last decade or so with the predominance of Bansky becoming so famous and selling his artwork for millions of dollars, as well as so many other street artists. I think that it’s becoming more acceptable. But at the same time, I still feel like it’s not part of the Fine Arts scene. Not entirely anyways, especially not in Santa Fe.
Have you learned anything surprising about your artistic practice and/or faith as you’ve embarked upon your own path?
When I was young, all I wanted to do was to be an artist. That’s all I could perceive myself being when I was an adult. I did everything based on what I was taught in school and what I saw in artist markets around Santa Fe, Albuquerque and my hometown of Española. I formed my style and what I did to be like every other artist. So, I worked with acrylics, painted churches and landscapes and things that just weren’t really my style, but it was because I wanted to be known as an artist. Eventually, I grew up and had a family and a full-time job and a mortgage and I realized that artwork wasn’t so practical. I decided that if I was going to continue doing artwork, I was going to do it my way and I wasn’t going to conform anymore. By fully committing to spray paint and street art—the portion of art that I love—I really started to succeed as an artist.
Regarding my faith, I grew up in Northern New Mexico and I grew up Catholic. I went to church, but it was interesting because in church—especially in Northern New Mexico—there is this predominance of art, this culture that surrounds the church and I grew up looking at all of these giant santeros and altars that were completely engulfed in northern New Mexico and Spanish colonial artwork. And that, to me, was more interesting. So it’s very saturated in my work, but my faith doesn’t necessarily follow the Catholic church anymore.
What do you want people to take away from your art?
Do things your way. Don’t be caught up in the bullshit and what everybody else is saying to do.Don’t be afraid to be different. Be yourself. I think that’s the most important message. I mean, my artwork is my message. If I hadn’t lost that conformity, and had the guts to take my own direction, I might not be talking to you guys right now or have been on PBS or in that Gen Next show. I had to stop following the path and blaze my own trail. It should be an expression of yourself. That’s the biggest thing. Don’t be afraid to be yourself and to be different.