Carlos Villa

Carlos Villa (1936–2013) is best known for his teaching, activism, and dynamic work. He grew up in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood, attended the San Francisco Art Institute, where he later became a professor, and earned an M.F.A. from Mills College in Oakland, California. While he began as a Minimalist artist, Villa was committed to exploring of his own Filipino American background and spotlighting forgotten or neglected art and artists of the post–World War II era. He wanted to rebalance the canon by reviving artistic cultures that had been disrupted by colonization and war. Through teaching and curating — he organized several important exhibitions and produced multimedia projects and performances — Villa influenced many young artists. Today, he is remembered for his activism as well as his contributions to Filipino American art.

Download the full teacher packet in the sidebar for lesson plans and activities.

Lesson plans:

• Lesson 1: Roots and Rituals: A Timeline of Carlos Villa 
• Lesson 2: Worlds in Collision Proposal
• Lesson 3: Identity Zine
• Lesson 4: Pen a Pantoum
• Lesson 5: Design Your Own Cloak
• Resources