César Viveros Herrera is a self-taught painter from Veracruz Mexico. In 1997, César came to the United States and was inspired by the murals created by Mural Arts Philadelphia. Since that time, César has spent 20 years collaborating with Mural Arts and other organizations, in creating murals and public art in the United States and his native Mexico.
César’s significant works include; Healing Walls (Victim’s Journey-2003) and (Inmates Journey -2004), a Mural Arts’ project that evolved from work with inmates of the State Correctional Institution at Graterford. Prisoners, victims of crime, victims’ advocates and others, worked together to create two murals depicting the struggle to change patterns of crime within communities and individuals. In 2006, César created the public mural, “Fuego Nuevo/ New Fire” as an homage to Mexican migration to Philadelphia. Through story- telling and painting, the mural depicts the faces of a developing and thriving Mexican community seeking to learn and exercise their rights in the United States, while making an impact/change in Mexico.
César Viveros Herrera, received global recognition when he created a mural commemorating Pope Francis’ visit to Philadelphia and the World Meeting of Families – 2015. The mural titled The Sacred Now: Faith and Family in the 21st Century, is 4,239 square feet and was created from 153 individual panels. People of different races, religions, nationalities, and ages painted the panels and engaged in discussions about peace, love, acceptance and unity. The mural which was signed by Pope Francis touched the lives of almost 2,500 people through paint days, thereby breaking the Guinness Book of World Records.
César has also, created art installations in collaboration with the Mexican Cultural Center and the Consulate of Mexico in Philadelphia, for public programs celebrating Mexican arts and culture at the University of Pennsylvania Archaeology Museum, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Kimmel Center in Philadelphia. He is a co-founder of the Aztec group “Fuego Nuevo” which through performances and workshops works to preserve Pre- Colombian culture.
Currently, César is creating murals and public art from a whole new perspective and heights. César’s mural making has been elevated above the ground and walls, to rooftops.