Ernesto yerena wikipedia

Coming from the small working class city of El Centro, CA, located about 15 miles from the US-Mexico border; I grew up in two cultures, two languages, and two perspectives.  My parents were born and raised in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico and had not been living in California long before I came into the picture, so while I was born in the states, I grew up with an immigrant experience.

Being raised on the border was interesting for me because on the US side, there was a smaller city surrounded by rural agricultural communities and right across the border there was a significantly large city.

At a young age I began to question the existence of the US/Mexican border, which eventually led me to create socially conscious works revolving around immigrants and indigenous rights. 

I was fortunate enough to come from a family that in its own way appreciated and valued the arts.

For that reason, I feel that I became a critical thinker who questioned everything from a young ag