Joe Lopez papers and Gallista Gallery records
name: label: Creator
content: Lopez, Joe, 1945-
label: Names
content: Gallista Gallery
topic: label: Occupation
content: Painters -- Texas -- San Antonio
label: Topic
content: Latino and Latin American artists
label: Topic
content: Mexican American artists
label: Topic
content: Chicano art movement
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: The Joe Lopez papers and Gallista Gallery records were donated by Joe Lopez in 2016.
creator: label: Creator
content: Lopez, Joe, 1945-
setName: label: See more items in
content: Joe Lopez papers and Gallista Gallery records
abstract: label: Summary
content: The Joe Lopez papers and Gallista Gallery records measure 1.7 linear feet and 32.93 GB and date from 1966 to 2016. The collection is comprised of biographical records that include interviews with Lopez, autobiographical writings by Lopez and writings by others, printed and digital materials, artwork, and photographic and moving image materials. Records for the Gallista Gallery include trademark files and legal records pertaining to the lawsuit against Lopez by E and J Gallo Winery over the use of the word "gallo."
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Joe Lopez (1945- ) is a painter and founder of the Gallista Gallery (1996-2016) in San Antonio, Texas. 

Lopez grew up in El Barrio Escondido, a neighborhood in San Antonio. He was introduced to art through his Uncle Basilio, a folk artist. While a student at St. Anthony Shrine School, Lopez gained the attention of one of the nuns which led to a scholarship to attend the Witte Museum Art School. He also attended La Villita School of Art, the San Antonio School of Art, and was awarded a scholarship to McNay Art Museum school. Lopez trained with artists Warren Hunter, John Squire Adams, Finis Collins, and Jesus "Chista" Cantu. Because Lopez was born with one hand, artist Jesse Treviño was an inspiration to Lopez for his ability to paint with one hand. 

Lopez's paintings often feature gallos, the Spanish word for roosters, because they symbolize strength and pride in Chicano and Mexican American culture. Lopez opened his own gallery in 1996 because he was having difficulty booking exhibitions at other galleries. The original name of the gallery was Puro Gallo, and he changed the name to Gallista Gallery in 1998. Gallista was coined by Lopez to describe those who supported him during a five year court battle with E and J Gallo Winery. The wine company initiated the lawsuit against Lopez over the use of the word "gallo." The gallery became a bedrock of the community, fostering the talents of local Latino artists long after the lawsuit ended. 

Early in his career, Lopez worked in the art department for Dillard's and Centeno's supermarket before becoming employed in the graphics department at Fort Sam Houston, a U.S. Army post in San Antonio. He retired in 2007 from Fort Sam Houston after 22 years. 

Lopez's work has been exhibited at the McNay Art Museum, Laguna Gloria Art Museum, and other museums throughout Texas. His paintings have been featured on posters and covers of music albums including Taquachito Nights: Conjunto Music from South Texas produced by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings and Puro Gallo by Los Padrinos.
function: label: Function
content: Art galleries, Commercial -- Texas
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 1.7 Linear Feet
label: Extent
content: 32.93 Gigabytes
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1966-2016
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.lopejoe
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Gigabytes
label: Type
content: Interviews
label: Type
content: Scrapbooks
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged as six series.

Series 1: Biographical Materials, 1966-2013 (Boxes 1, 3; 6 folders, ER01-ER06; 19.32 GB)

Series 2: Writings, circa 1997-2002 (Box 1; 6 folders)

Series 3: Gallista Gallery Records, 1990-2016 (Boxes 1, 3; 0.8 linear feet, ER07; 7.53 GB)

Series 4: Printed Materials, circa 1975-2015 (Boxes 1-3; 0.4 linear feet)

Series 5: Artwork, circa 1990-2008 (Boxes 2-3; 5 folders)

Series 6: Photographic and Moving Image Materials, circa 1985-circa 2010 (Box 2; 0.2 linear feet, ER08-10; 6.10 GB)
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: The collection was processed and a finding aid prepared by Sarah Mundy in 2018. Born-digital materials were processed by Kirsi Ritosalmi-Kisner in 2020 with funding provided by Smithsonian Collection Care and Preservation Fund.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Interviews
label: Genre/Form
content: Scrapbooks
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The Joe Lopez papers and Gallista Gallery records measure 1.7 linear feet and 32.93 GB and date from 1966 to 2016. The collection is comprised of biographical records that include interviews with Lopez, autobiographical writings by Lopez and writings by others, printed and digital materials, artwork, and photographic and moving image materials. Records for the Gallista Gallery include trademark files and legal records pertaining to the lawsuit against Lopez by E and J Gallo Winery over the use of the word "gallo."