# Joe Ray > Public artist based in Scottsdale, Arizona - painter, printmaker, sculptor, and writer whose bold, colorful work draws on Chicano and Native American iconography. > Joe Ray, also known as the Cisco Kid, was born in San Luis, Sonora, Mexico, grew up in Poston, Arizona on the Colorado River Indian Tribes reservation, and earned a BFA from Arizona State University. A longtime member of the Chicano and Native American arts organization Xico and represented by Royse Contemporary in Old Town Scottsdale, he works across painting, printmaking, sculpture, and public art. Recurring series include Corazones (hearts), Sirenas (mermaids), Angels, and Luchadores, and his public art includes the Rincon de Color installation created through the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture. Original works and commissions are available. ## Pages - [Blog](https://joeray.com/blog/) - [Art Classes](https://joeray.com/art-classes/) - [Public Art](https://joeray.com/public-art/) - [Exhibitions](/joeray/exhibitions/): Currently on Display Multicultural County Park Sculpture Exhibition My newest sculpture, Observador, is part of my ongoing Time Traveling Ancestors... - [Contact](https://joeray.com/contact/) - [Art Awards](https://joeray.com/awards/) - [Miscellaneous](https://joeray.com/miscellaneous/) - [Sculpture](https://joeray.com/sculpture/) - [Angels](https://joeray.com/angels/) - [Sirenas](https://joeray.com/sirenas/) - [Corazones](https://joeray.com/corazones/) - [Luchadores](https://joeray.com/luchadores/) - [About](/joeray/about/) - [Home](https://joeray.com/) ## Posts - [Why Art Matters Right Now](https://joeray.com/why-art-matters-now/) - [¿Por Qué en Español?](https://joeray.com/por-que-en-espanol/) - [Art, Culture, and Innovation in the Shade: Rincón de Color](https://joeray.com/art-culture-innovation-in-the-shade-rincon-de-color/) - [Celestial Juggler: A Time Traveler in Flagstaff](https://joeray.com/celestial-juggler-a-time-traveler-in-flagstaff/) - [SAVE THE DATE: City of Flagstaff presents: Multicultural County Park Sculpture Exhibition ](https://joeray.com/city-of-flagstaff-presents-multicultural-county-park-sculpture-exhibition/) - [Rincón de Color: Public Art, Community, and Cultural Pride](https://joeray.com/rincon-de-color-public-art-community-and-cultural-pride/) - [COMO EL VIENTO. LIKE THE WIND.](https://joeray.com/como-el-viento-like-the-wind/) - [ART DURING 2020: FULL COLOR GRATITUDE](https://joeray.com/art-during-2020-full-color-gratitude/) - [THE ANCIENTS: MEXICAN BOXERS AND TIME TRAVEL](https://joeray.com/the-ancients-mexican-boxers-and-time-travel/) - [XELFI TIME](https://joeray.com/xelfi-time/) - [MUSINGS FROM THE SKETCHBOOK – ONLY DEMONS THINK IN STRAIGHT LINES](https://joeray.com/musings-from-the-sketchbook-only-demons-think-in-straight-lines/) - [RAMBLINGS FROM THE SKETCHBOOK](https://joeray.com/ramblings-from-the-sketchbook/) - [INNER WORKINGS](https://joeray.com/inner-workings/) - [FOREVER GO FORWARD, MY FRIEND](https://joeray.com/forever-go-forward-my-friend/) - [ENAMORADOS…LOVERS…LUST](https://joeray.com/enamoradosloverslust/) - [¡SALUD! A SIRENA AND HER WINE INDUCED OBSERVATIONS…](https://joeray.com/salud-a-sirena-and-her-wine-induced-observations/) - [SKETCHED THOUGHTS…A MINOTAUR AND HIS TEQUILA](https://joeray.com/sketched-thoughtsa-minotaur-and-his-tequila/) - [SOMBRA BLANCA…SUEÑOS](https://joeray.com/sombra-blancasuenos/) - [LAS 3 MUSES: SIRENAS DE MADERA](https://joeray.com/las-3-muses-sirenas-de-madera/) - [PLAYING WITH LAS SIRENAS…LA SIRENA ROJA](https://joeray.com/playing-with-las-sirenasla-sirena-roja/) - [DRINKING WITH EL DIABLO…THE DEVIL’S CAB AND THE DEVIL’S PINOT.](https://joeray.com/drinking-with-el-diablothe-devils-cab-and-the-devils-pinot/) - [TACOS CON HUEVOS](https://joeray.com/tacos-con-huevos/) - [EL DIABLO’S CHARDONNAY](https://joeray.com/el-diablos-chardonnay/) - [LA PIÑA DE MUERTE](https://joeray.com/la-pina-de-muerte/) - [SOME CLOWNS SPIT BLOOD…AND OTHER RAMBLINGS ABOUT CHUPACABRAS AND EXORCISMS.](https://joeray.com/some-clowns-spit-bloodand-other-ramblings-about-chupacabras-and-exorcisms/) - [INSPIRATIONS AND LAME ATTEMPTS AT LUNAR SEDUCTION](https://joeray.com/inspirations-and-lame-attempts-at-lunar-seduction/) ## Events - [City of Flagstaff presents Multicultural County Park Sculpture Exhibition](/joeray/exhibitions/city-of-flagstaff-presents-multicultural-county-park-sculpture-exhibition/): May 19, 2025 – April 18, 2026 · Elizabeth “Liz” C. Archuleta County Park in Flagstaff - [¡Qué Hermoso! Presented by Sedona Art Center](/joeray/exhibitions/que-hermoso-presented-by-sedona-art-center/): May 2 – May 30, 2025 · Sedona Art Center - [¡SOMBRA! Experiments in Shade • Public Art Project Cielito Park](/joeray/exhibitions/sombra-experiments-in-shade-public-art-project-cielito-park/): April 19, 2025 · 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM · Cielito Park - [The 2024 Camelback Studio Tour](/joeray/exhibitions/the-2024-camelback-studio-tour/): November 9 – November 10, 2024 - [Royse Contemporary 7 Year Celebration & ArT pArTy](/joeray/exhibitions/royse-contemporary-7-year-celebration-art-party/): July 18 – August 31, 2024 · Royse Contemporary - [Xico's 36th Annual Dinner & Art Auction](/joeray/exhibitions/xicos-36th-annual-dinner-art-auction/): February 24, 2024 · 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM · Warehouse 215 - [FREQUENCIES: SOLO EXHIBITION AT ROYSE CONTEMPORARY](/joeray/exhibitions/frequencies-solo-exhibition-at-royse-contemporary/): February 8 – March 10, 2024 · Royse Contemporary - [HERBERGER THEATER GROUP EXHIBITION](/joeray/exhibitions/herberger-theater-group-exhibition/): January 5 – January 27, 2024 · Bob's Spot Gallery · Herberger Theatre - [Phoenix Airport Museum Night Vision, juried group exhibition](/joeray/exhibitions/phoenix-airport-museum-night-vision-juried-group-exhibition/): December 10, 2023 – May 31, 2024 - [Open Studio & Sale](/joeray/exhibitions/open-studio-sale/): December 9, 2023 · 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM · Joe's Studio - [Annual Camelback Studio Tour](/joeray/exhibitions/annual-camelback-studio-tour/): November 11 – November 12, 2023 - [Christmas in July: Open Studio & Sale](/joeray/exhibitions/christmas-in-july-open-studio-sale/): July 22, 2023 · 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM - [Xico: Los de Aquí y Los de Allá](/joeray/exhibitions/xico-los-de-aqui-y-los-de-alla/): July 14 – August 18, 2023 - [Royse Contemporary Gallery: Color + Abstraction](/joeray/exhibitions/royse-contemporary-gallery-color-abstraction/): July 13 – July 23, 2023 - [Mayo Clinic](/joeray/exhibitions/mayo-clinic/): November 28, 2022 – February 28, 2023 · Mayo Clinic - [Hidden in the Hills Artist Studio Tour](/joeray/exhibitions/hidden-in-the-hills-artist-studio-tour/): November 18 – November 27, 2022 · 6233 East Almeda Court - [Annual Camelback Studio Tour](/joeray/exhibitions/annual-camelback-studio-tour-2/): November 12 – November 13, 2022 - [ASU Art Musuem: Lucha Libre: Beyond the Arenas](/joeray/exhibitions/asu-art-musuem-lucha-libre-beyond-the-arenas/): October 29, 2022 – May 7, 2023 # # Detailed Content ## Pages ## Posts In a fast, divided world, art invites us to slow down and feel again. We're living in a moment defined by noise, division, and a lot of speed. Everything demands attention and reaction. Art moves differently. It doesn't shout. It pauses and… JUEGOS AMOROSOS Acrylic on Canvas 60" x 48" $4,000 I've often been asked why so much of my art is titled in Spanish. The short answer? Spanish hits different. I spoke Spanish first. It's my original language. I didn't really speak English… On April 19, we gathered under the sun, and the shade to celebrate the unveiling of our Rincón de Color at Cielito Park, the first installation in the City of Phoenix's ¡SOMBRA! Experiments in Shade series. What began last year as a… This sculpture is part of my Time Traveling Ancients series, which reimagines Mesoamerican deities and priestly figures as visitors to the 21st century. These ancient beings have journeyed through time to experience today's Chicano/Latino bicultural world, they're curious, observant, and deeply connected… SAVE THE DATE! Opening Reception: Monday, May 19, 2025 11am with a welcome by Mayor Becky Dagget Celestial Juggler I am absolutely thrilled to have been selected to be a part of this exhibition for 2025/26 at Elizabeth "Liz" C. Archuleta County… Rincón de Color: Public Art, Community, and Cultural Pride Since the summer of 2024, I've been collaborating with fellow artist Jose Benavides on an exciting and experimental public art project with the Phoenix Office of Arts & Culture. This initiative, called ¡SOMBRA!… COMO EL VIENTO. LIKE THE WIND. Much of my work features hearts - sometimes one, sometimes more. Corazones are the centerpiece of my art, bringing a sense of healing and spirituality to myself, my collectors, and other viewers. This is my first… ART DURING 2020: FULL COLOR GRATITUDE I created a lot of art during 2020. I managed to do some things that I had never done before, and I was able to collaborate and work with artists in ways that were new to… THE ANCIENTS: MEXICAN BOXERS AND TIME TRAVEL I've done a few pieces that feature Mexican boxers. Ancient Mexican boxers. These guys are full of energy and strength. They're skilled fighters. These boxers are Ancient Deities who enjoy boxing and the challenges that… XELFI TIME Ancient deities are among us in today's world. Plus, they happen to be really good at time travelling. These Ancients enjoy their daily interactions with us mere mortals. They enjoy interacting with us, and they enjoy their devices. Ancients over-index… MUSINGS FROM THE SKETCHBOOK - ONLY DEMONS THINK IN STRAIGHT LINES We sat there in wonder as it rose from the rubble and morphed into stone and feathers. It began to move, making a hissing sound as it rattled. Suddenly it looked… RAMBLINGS FROM THE SKETCHBOOK The kid down the street used to dye his hair blue and sing songs about tequila fevered dreams. He also claimed pirates had taken his hearing. I think they took his voice as well. His older sister had… INNER WORKINGS I saw a couple of vampires sitting on the curb outside a Circle K the other day. One nodded and smiled at me. Across the street in the used car lot were 5 bulls grazing. I think the vampires were… FOREVER GO FORWARD, MY FRIEND This is an older piece that I had written about almost 3 years ago. Looking back it was 1 out of 3 who made it. I'm not sure if it was in a dream or while reflecting… ENAMORADOS…LOVERS…LUST This small piece (Mixed medium collage, 7″ x 7″) is one of a few pieces I've done that depict lovers (Deities) gazing at each other, embracing or lusting. Either way, they're fiery and colorful. Before they embraced, he reached over and… ¡SALUD! A SIRENA AND HER WINE INDUCED OBSERVATIONS… Smiling, she raised her glass to those who doubted she could ever be free. Under her breath, she laughed at the drunken bavosos and their caprichos nuevos. She heard them crow like roosters as… SKETCHED THOUGHTS…A MINOTAUR AND HIS TEQUILA He wandered around with his tequila and grapefruit drink. Naked in the sun, he smiled & snorted loudly as he walked. He even walked loud. Walking softly was not in his make up- it had always… SOMBRA BLANCA…SUEÑOS I'm not convinced all of our shadows are dark composites. Sometimes they have more energy than we give them credit for, we just seem to prefer to think of them as dark, shadowy and somewhat ominous. I've decided that they… LAS 3 MUSES: SIRENAS DE MADERA Red thoughts give way to bold & brazen lust. Wet lust… These are 3 Sirenas that I recently painted, which were carved by Luciano Garcia. Luciano is my friend (and fellow artist/paisano) Gennaro Garcia's father. Luciano… PLAYING WITH LAS SIRENAS…LA SIRENA ROJA I'm not sure when "my thing" with mermaids began. I have no clue, at least not for this lifetime. I've always liked the beach, if that has anything to do with anything. I've always liked cocos… DRINKING WITH EL DIABLO…THE DEVIL'S CAB AND THE DEVIL'S PINOT. I like a good glass of red. Hell, I like the entire bottle. Mostly Pinot but I like Cab also. It depends on my mood and what I'm eating. Wine is a… TACOS CON HUEVOS This piece is a little older and is a limited edition serigraph print produced at Self Help Graphics in East Los. The recent Nopalista movement brought it to mind. Beto immediately thought of Freddy and started to cry because… EL DIABLO'S CHARDONNAY Pepe lay in the tub thinking in an altered manner. He listened to music, holding a remote in one hand and a glass of wine in the other hand… It was then that El Diablo approached him to converse… LA PIÑA DE MUERTE The tale of the piña. A few years ago, my friend Flaco, who has been a Court Interpreter for many years, told a group of us the following story. He (Flaco) had some time to kill (no pun… SOME CLOWNS SPIT BLOOD…AND OTHER RAMBLINGS ABOUT CHUPACABRAS AND EXORCISMS. I originally saw this written underneath a bridge in large spray painted letters, somewhere between the late 70s and early 1980s. I don't think I saw it more than twice and I'm… INSPIRATIONS AND LAME ATTEMPTS AT LUNAR SEDUCTION I was recently reminded during Lunar movements, passages and transgressions, etc., that some men try to seduce the moon. I thought we had moved beyond that. Evidently not. Some morons are still trying to seduce… ## Events May 19, 2025 – April 18, 2026 · Elizabeth “Liz” C. Archuleta County Park in Flagstaff May 2 – May 30, 2025 · Sedona Art Center April 19, 2025 · 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM · Cielito Park November 9 – November 10, 2024 July 18 – August 31, 2024 · Royse Contemporary February 24, 2024 · 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM · Warehouse 215 February 8 – March 10, 2024 · Royse Contemporary January 5 – January 27, 2024 · Bob's Spot Gallery · Herberger Theatre December 10, 2023 – May 31, 2024 December 9, 2023 · 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM · Joe's Studio November 11 – November 12, 2023 July 22, 2023 · 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM July 14 – August 18, 2023 July 13 – July 23, 2023 November 28, 2022 – February 28, 2023 · Mayo Clinic November 18 – November 27, 2022 · 6233 East Almeda Court November 12 – November 13, 2022 October 29, 2022 – May 7, 2023 > For commissions, purchases, or exhibition inquiries, contact Joe Ray at joe@joeray.com.