Montoya, José - 1932

Biographical/Historical note

José Montoya is one of the premiere cultural activists in the Chicano movement. He was Born in New Mexico in 1932, but grew up in central California. He witnessed the struggle for migrant farm workers rights first hand. His involvement with organized labor, and collaboration with Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers movement, was the begining of his lifelong commitment to artistic inquiry and an unwavering dedication to artistic activism. Montoya co-founded one of the ground-breaking Chicano Artist Collectives in 1970. This group came to be known as the Royal Chicano Air Force. The RCAF set the standard for using art as a tool for Chicano historical exposition, advocacy and the education of young people.

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