Orlando Artist Mateo Blanco Honors the Hopi Tribe with Sculpture

Published June 11, 2019

ORLANDO, Fla. — Watching futuristic movies, many people don’t recognize the stylistic elements Hollywood borrows from Native American tribes.

Orlando artist, Mateo Blanco, is on a mission to change this. On Thursday, June 6, his latest piece “Hopi Girl” will debut at the Orlando Museum of Art’s 1st Thursdaysevent.

The piece is of a young Hopi girl, featuring her native hairstyle made popular by Princess Leia in the “Star Wars” franchise. Over time, this hairstyle has become a representation of female strength and prosperity.

Blanco created this piece to bring recognition to the Hopi culture and honor its influences on our society.

The medium of the sculpture – rope – is a metaphor. A strong material, rope represents the pain every woman must endure and the strength that guides her through it.

“On a recent trip to Arizona with my parents, I was able to reconnect with my roots,” said Blanco. “My mother is a descendant of Native Americans, so I wanted create a sculpture as a tribute to her and our ancestors. Always a fan of “Star Wars”, I thought this piece was an excellent chance to draw attention to the influences the Hopi tribe has had on our culture.”

Mateo Blanco is a world-renowned visual and vocal artist. Known for his unconventional use of mediums and edible materials, Blanco’s sense of wonder is present in everything he creates. Noteworthy projects include portraits of Jennifer Lawrence in peanuts, Dolly Parton recreated in pieces of cloth and string, and Elsa from Disney’s “Frozen” in sugar crystals. His art can be found in Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museums, as well as in museums and private collections around the world. Blanco’s recently re-released album “Mateo Blanco 724” can be found on iTunes, Spotify, Tidal, Google Play and Amazon Music.

To view Blanco’s art and other projects, visithttp://mateoblanco.us.

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