Ernesto Pedregon Martinez
Artist - Muralist - Educator
Ernesto is a renowned international self-taught
artist and muralist.
He was an illustrator/artist for the federal government for more than 35 years, and a
professor of Mexican!American art at El Paso Community College for nine years. He
was born and raised in the poor barrios of South El Paso and understands first hand the
daily struggles of the Mexican people, the focus of his works.
Ernesto is considered one of the nation's leading Mexican-American artists. As a
recognized figure of achievement in the field of art, he has been a frequent guest and
speaker at many civic, religious, and military functions, many times with national and
international personalities. This includes an appearance in Mexico City on the
international program "Siempre en Domingo" with Raul Velasco.
Ernesto Martinez has been active in local community service and has commendably
served our country in the military service. He served in W.W. II with Gen. Terry
Allen's famed 104th "Timberwolf" Division in Europe. He was awarded the Bronze
Star in combat, Combat Infantry Badge, and Battle Stars.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
 Commander Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #9173
 Vice-Commander American Legion #36 Disabled American Veterans Westside 1st Vice-President - Paisano Lions Club Scoutmaster for Troops 17
and 39
 Boy Scouts of America District Executive Knights of Columbus
 Ruben Salazar Foundation L.U.L.A.C.
 Contributing writer for the "EI Pasefio" newspaper art column
 Ernesto is a frequent speaker in elementary and high schools. He also speaks at
drug abuse centers to help abused and high risk children.
 Speaker at Oberlin College, Ohio
 Speaker at U.T.E.P. conferences
 Member of the Executive Advisory Board for Border Aids Partnership
 Active in the "Chicano Movement" of 1960-1970
HONORS IN ART
 Selected "Texas State Artist" in two-dimensional works of art for
1997-1998 by the Senate of the State of Texas
 Honored with "Resolution H.R. No. 755" by the State of Texas House of Representatives of the 75th Texas Legislature, 1997
 Honored by U.S. Congressman Silvestre Reyes with a reception and
Art Exhibit in El Paso offices, 1997
 Honored by more than 350 people from the community and including
state and city officials with a reception at the El Paso Museum of Art
for being selected as the State Artist of the Year, 1998
 Featured in "The Voice of America" U.S. Government overseas
television program, 1998
 Featured in the following University books:
a. "Perspectives" Voices of Latinos, Massachusetts, 1996
b. "Colors on Desert Walls" The Murals of El Paso, 1997
c. "Chicano Studies" survey and analysis book, 1997 (UTEP)
d. "Chicano Art", University of Texas, 1997
 "Who's Who in American Art," 1976, 1993-1994
 Featured in "Palette Talk" National Art Magazine published in New
York
 Honored by El Paso City Council for outstanding contributions to
Mexican-American culture, 1977
 "Artist of the Year" L.U.L.A.C. #9,1974; #664,1975
 Commissioned by Governor Dolph Briscoe of Texas as "Admiral in
the Texas Navy," 1978
 "Honor Book of Distinguished Americans" Library of Congress, 1980
 I.R.S. and D.E.A. Intelligence Center (speaker and exhibitor), 1990
 Many Ft. Bliss and White Sands military functions (guest and
speaker)
 Grand Marshall of Houston, Texas "Ethnic Parade," 1978
 Deputy Grand Marshall of Veteran's Day Parade, El Paso, Texas,
1977
 Radio and television interviews and personal appearances in
California, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas .
 One of the national Hispanic artists selected for the 1990 C.A.R.A.
Exhibit. The exhibit included more than 100 works of national
Hispanic artists, sculptors, poets, etc. that toured the United States for
three years. Among the galleries selected were The Wright Gallery
(U.C.L.A.); Denver Art Museum; San Francisco Museum of Modem
Art; The Smithsonian National Museum in Washington D.C.; Field
Museum of Chicago; Albuquerque; Tucson; El Paso; The Bronx
Museum of Art, New York City
 One of the national artists invited to exhibit at the prestigious New
England Fine Arts Institute of Boston, MA, 1993
 Artist-in-Residence for Chicano Studies Department at University of
Texas at El Paso (UTEP)

Keynote speaker for "The Holocaust Services" at Fort Bliss, 1998
COMMISSIONED MURALS
 "Pre-Columbian Mexico," Cafeteria Bowie High School, El Paso, 1976
 "Congressional Medal of Honor," Veterans' Clinic, El Paso, 1977
 "The Resurrection," main altar of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Houston, Texas
 "Love of Country" and "Disabled American Veterans" murals Veterans'
Hospital at Tor C, New Mexico. Commissioned by the State of New Mexico
 "Labyrinth of the Americas," mini mural University of Texas at El Paso
 "Desert Storm," military mural commissioned by the Junior League (Los
Murales Project) of EI Paso. Commissioned for 1991 and 1992, the mural is
located at Stout Gym in Ft. Bliss. It is a tribute to our armed forces, and
measures 50 ft. x 8 ft.
 Commissioned by the Veterans' Administration to paint a second medal-ofhonor mural at the new V.A. clinic next to Beaumont Army Hospital, 1995