Every now and then, you come across a piece of art that makes you pause. If you’re already a fan of Rudy Guiterrez’s work, you’ve likely had many of those moments. Guiterrez isn’t new of fledging; his work has already been viewed across the globe, most prominently on Santana’s "Shaman" album cover and in the pages of Rolling Stone, the New York Times. The Bronx-born artist is already a favorite among book publishers and record labels, and he’s received a long list of awards, including the Distinguished Educator Award from the Society of Illustrators.

But if you take a look at Guiterrez’s portfolio, you can see that the praise is well-deserved. His vibrant works draws heavily on Latino and African heritage, and the imagery is a nice counter to the negative images people of color often see of themselves in mainstream media. His work as been exhibited at the Conference Against Racism in South Africa, and in 2008 Western Union commissioned Guitierrez to produce a series of murals "Proyecto Raices," a series that honors Latino heritage. You can see those pieces in Miami, Dallas, and Los Angeles.

Guiterrez, who currently teaches at Pratt Institute in New York, has also performed live paintings with Def Dance Jam Workshop. It’s a clear nod that his work is about building a better future.

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