Boston - On September 25, 2024, Governor Maura Healey hosted a celebration for Hispanic Heritage Month, where she unveiled a temporary art installment by Hispanic and Latino artists living in Massachusetts. The exhibition showcases the rich culture, history and talents of the Hispanic and Latino communities in Massachusetts. The art exhibit, in partnership with the Mass Cultural Council, displays the work of Camilo Ramirez, Felipe Ortiz and Michelle Falcón Fontánez in the reception area of the Governor’s office.  

“Our shared history and traditions should be on full display here at the State House, where we are celebrating the strength and culture of our Hispanic and Latino community in Massachusetts,” said Governor Healey. “These pieces will enrich the experience of thousands of visitors who come to the State House to see our shared roots on display.”   

“We are thankful to Camilo Ramirez, Felipe Ortiz and Michelle Falcón Fontánez for partnering with us to display their work here at our state capital to shine a light on our vibrant Massachusetts Hispanic community,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Our administration will continue to cultivate a state where art can be used as a tool to bring us together and highlight the Massachusetts story.”   

The celebration, emceed by co-chairs of Governor Healey’s Latino Empowerment Council Josiane Martinez and Gladys Vega, also featured performances by Sinha and the U.S. Capoeira Federation, Peruvian singer Mariana Walker and Jóvenes en Acción, a youth group from Hyde Square Task Force. Don Tequeño y Doña Arep, a local small Venezuelan restaurant operated by the Marte Contreras family based in Dorchester catered the event. 

Since taking office, Governor Healey has sought to expand diverse art on display in the Governor’s Executive Office Suite by adding “Black Tie” by Robert T. Freeman and “At the Tremont Street Car Barns” by Allan Rohan Crite, which are on loan from the Musuem of Fine Arts. She has also displayed other temporary exhibitions in the Governor’s reception area, including celebrating Black History, Climate Month, Pride Month and the Cape & Islands. The office also has on loan from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Early Summer by J. Appleton Brown, Spring Hillside by J. J. Enneking, George Washington by Francis Alexander, Landscape by Leslie Prince Thompson and Showery May Morning, by J. Appleton Brown.

Additional information about the temporary installments:

About Camilo Ramirez:

Camilo Ramirez is a Colombian American photographer based in Boston, MA. His projects explore the straddling of American and Colombian culture as seen in the landscape and through personal projects around family. Two of his work, “La Tertuila” and “Licores Las Vegas” are both on display in the Governor’s reception area.

Camilo holds and MFA in photography from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. His awards include a Massachusetts Cultural Council Fellowship, Lensculture 50 Emerging Talents, and BOAAT Press Competition winner. His work has been exhibited at the MFA-Boston, Griffin Museum of Photography, SF Camerawork, and appeared in CNN Photos, the Boston Globe, and The Oxford American.  

About Felipe Ortiz:

Felipe Ortiz focuses on the practice of painting, from traditional easel painting to murals and public installations. In 2009, he earned a BFA in 2D Fine Arts from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Felipe has participated in numerous art exhibits of private and public collections, including the Fuller Craft Museum, Punto Urban Art Museum, and the corporate loan collection at DeCordova Museum. Two of his work, “Pacifico” and “P.R.” are both on display in the Governor’s reception area.

Felipe has also participated in various public art projects at local and international levels. In 2016, he founded the Fresco Exchange, a group invested in the creative and cultural exchange for artists across countries. This collaborative project supports artists through traveling art exhibits, public art interventions, workshops, and community engagement. The core mission is to share ideas between creative economies and exchange best practices in the arts. The collective traveling experiences have helped shape this project while providing valuable knowledge of the art world. Currently, Felipe Maintains his studio practice while also coordinating public art projects.

About Michelle Falcón Fontánez:

Michelle Falcón Fontánez is a multimedia storyteller from Holyoke, MA working in photography, film, and public art. Michelle has witnessed and personally experienced injustices that have shaped her views of the world, motivating her pursuit of making change through art. Her artistry has primarily focused on social issues, where she has created work to illuminate voices that have not been heard. Two of her work, from her series "La Primera” titled "A Call to Our Ancestors" are on display in the Governor’s reception area.

Michelle's early work consists of solo producing a short documentary PROMESA, that takes a personal look at the impacts of 2016 bankruptcy law in Puerto Rico. Her latest photo series, MATRIA, honors Puerto Rican women in Holyoke, MA who have made significant contributions to Paper City. MATRIA will be installed as murals in Spring 2025. Currently, Michelle is working in a three part mini-series that unpacks the psychological and environmental impacts on Boricuas living in South Holyoke during the 1970s fires.