Jesse Trevino
(1946- )

Jesse Treviño, who won his first art contest when he was in grade school, is one of America's finest realist painters and muralists. Two of Treviño's paintings are in the collection of the Smithsonian's American Art Museum. In recent years Treviño has become known for his building-size murals and his large photorealistic style paintings. His nine-story by 40 feet mural, titled Spirit of Healing, on Santa Rosa Children's Hospital has become a San Antonio landmark. But tragedy almost deprived the world of Treviño's artistry. He was attending the Art Students League in New York, and was about to go to Paris, when he received his draft notice for Vietnam. There he lost his right arm in combat. While recovering he turned again to his love of art. He enrolled in a drawing course at San Antonio College and gradually learned to paint and draw with his left hand. Treviño earned his bachelor's degree from Our Lady of the Lake University and a master's degree from the University of Texas. His current project is a 40-foot, three-dimensional veladora, or candleholder, that will be dedicated to the victims of the September 11 terrorist attack. [Adapted from American Association of Community Colleges]