Visual Art & Cultural Documentation

Known for figurative works depicting the Yaqui Deer Dancer, Mario’s paintings bridge the Sewa Ania (Flower World) and the present-day world. Raised within the community of Old Pascua, he draws on the oral stories and ceremonial life of the Kohtumbre Ya’ura (Lenten Society) and works in both traditional and contemporary media — including screen printing and digital arts — to raise awareness of issues facing tribal nations. Through AAW, Mario partnered with Yaqui elders and youth to preserve language and culture through intergenerational dialogue and visual art, completing two paintings of the seweyalio (The Enchanted World) for display at Pascua Yaqui Assisted Living, with plans for a Yaqui language book to follow.