Mario Chacon is an artist, educator, and community advocate whose creations explore socio-political, cultural and spiritual expressions of his Indigenous and Mexican / Chicano Heritage.

Born and raised in the Boyle Heights community of Los Angeles and coming of age at the height of the Chicano Movement in the late 60’s and 70’s, Chacon considers his experiences during the High School Walkouts, the Chicano Moratorium, and the artistic renaissance of this period to be a powerful life changing phenomena that informs his social and artistic perspective even today. Settling in San Diego, California in 1981, Chacon has been featured in numerous gallery exhibits, and publications, and has created murals at the famed Chicano Park in San Diego and throughout the region. 

Parallel to his career as an artist, Chacon served as a Counselor, and Assistant Dean of Student Affairs at the University of California, San Diego’s Thurgood Marshall College, he later served as Dean of Student Affairs at San Diego City College, and Associate Dean of Special Programs at Grossmont College. Throughout his 36 Years in Higher Education, Chacon served on numerous regional and statewide committees representing the needs of underserved students, and holding educational institutions accountable for delivery of equitable services for all students. Mario Chacon retired in 2019 to pursue his career as an Artist, Muralist on a full-time basis.

Chacon has also served on the Board of Directors, and Arts Advisory Committee of the Centro Cultural De La Raza in San Diego, The Barrio Logan Planning Group, The Kumeyaay Indian Foundation and various committees and efforts serving the Chicano Community of San Diego. Most recently he has enjoyed serving on the Board of the Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center and is very proud of contributing to the inauguration of this wonderful Museum and repository of Art, Culture, History, and Science.

In addition to the aforementioned when not spending time with his children and family or at a mural site, Chacon works from his studio located at the Bread and Salt Art Complex in Barrio Logan, where he creates, and also facilitates artistic development workshops with individuals and small groups. 

For more information, Mario Chacon can be reached at [email protected].