Provided by Black Sheep Collective
Mauro de la Tierra is a first generation Mexican American from San Antonio; a self-taught painter, sculptor, illustrator and director. What began with street art transitioned into canvas and beyond. Mauro has been self-employed as a full time artist since October 2017. He considers himself community-made and is community-driven. His work focuses on socio-economic challenges and generational struggles such as the prison industrial complex, poverty, addiction, and the deterioration of the earth. His work captures a side of life that is often vilified and ignored while also making a statement of love for humanity. Mauro creates heavy textures on canvas with spray paint, acrylic, and oil paints, in a modern and raw style of whimsical, surreal, abstract expressionism.
In the same year that Mauro launched himself into art full time, he began leading and collaborating with The Black Sheep Collective, a group of DIY misfit artist extraordinaires. Together they have put on six pop-up gallery exhibitions and performances. His work thus far has been shown in various galleries which have included Galleria Eva, Bear & Ink Gallery, Southtown Gallery, The Parish,, Community Artists’ Collective and Not For You gallery. Mauro currently has 3 paintings at Golden Wolf Studios in a group exhibition curated by Jason Popguy Ibarra that will close November 13th.
The Holy Relapse is the newest project from Mauro de la Tierra in collaboration with writing partner Joshua A. Rodriguez. It is a product of the pandemic, having been started in March 2020 and finally completed in August 2021. The 44-page, full-color graphic novel is the second book in an ongoing series known as Tales From The Abando, which follows multiple interwoven stories from an alternate, post-apocalyptic Earth. The Holy Relapse is told through the perspective of the biblical Jesus Christ struggling as a failed messiah who has fallen to humanity’s sins, abandoned by the people he was once destined to save.
Themes within The Holy Relapse are greed, nihilism, class struggle, gentrification, ecological destruction, and recovery. The book aims to detail an unflinching and sobering look into the darkest sides of gluttony and addiction, based closely on truths pulled from its creators’ experiences. By painting an honest account of said experiences, Mauro and The Holy Relapse find solace in a place of healing, hope, and positivity.
The Holy Relapse is out now on print via direct purchase through Instagram @theholyrelapse or at pop-up vending and art events near you.
