Big Thanks to the Artists/Designers!

We at Being Latino keep on growing because people believe in us and have dedicated their efforts to helping us better ourselves every day.

Listed below are three people that have most recently contributed to Being Latino with their artistic abilities.

Big thanks to Oliver Rios, Marcus Simpson and Being Latino’s newest team member, Joshua (Xeno) Martinez. Listed below is more information on each person.

Oliver Rios

Oliver Rios has been creatively designing and photographing for about 20 years. Painting murals and airbrushing in the late ‘80s and ‘90s gave Rios the opportunity to expose his artistic talents in NYC. Working with the general market as well as the Hispanic market has given Oliver the opportunity to create Orios Designs a graphic design company with a cutting edge flavor. He has painted murals that have been featured on prominent TV shows as well as nationally known museums. His digital images are being distributed throughout the United States and Canada by many of the leading cellular providers. Rios also uses his talent to help raise awareness for important issues such as breast cancer, AIDS, and the environment.

“My mission is to exhibit the artwork I create while raising awareness of important issues that affect us today.”

For more information about Oliver and his work, please visit www.oriosdesigns.com or e-mail info@oriosdesigns.com.

Marcus Simpson

Art & Web Designer, Marcus Simpson, grew up on Detroit’s east side, drawing elaborate and unique designs on denim outfits with magic markers in the 90’s. The lack of art programs in the Detroit school system denied him an outlet to let his creativity flourish. Visual and artistic energy misdirected caused him to be misunderstood and eventually expelled from every Detroit High School. A blessing in disguise.

He then went on to study Visual Communication Technology and Art Design at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, where he instantly became one of the best students in his college. His passion and drive for the arts pushed pass the curriculum and again he found himself unchallenged and bored so he immersed himself in independent learning. Practically self-taught and adventurous, he sought out the best designers, marketers, and copywriters in his area to learn from and work with.

Now, a well-rounded creative, Simpson freelances and completely throws himself into every marketing project determined to top his previous performance.

For superb marketing strategy with incredible graphics and detail contact him at 419.450.5860. Email him at ImSoMars@gmail.com. Or link up with him on LinkedIn: Marcus Simpson.

Joshua ‘Xeno’ Martinez

Joshua Michael Martinez is a political activist who has been featured in New York Magazine, MTV, and numerous radio talk shows for his involvement in both the Queer and Latino/Minority communities. As a college student, he co-founded the Coalition which was an organization dedicated to the revitalization of the Ethnic Studies Campaign to diversify the college’s course curriculum. And co-chaired the Latino Student Union called Unidad, whose primary focus was on the organization of conferences and events to promote racial/ethnic diversity and awareness.

Joshua is a talented artist, whose innovative mind and imagination have led him into the world of digital illustration. Winner of numerous awards for his artistic creativity, Joshua continues to find motivation by embracing his Diasporic ancestry and heritage. Featured in Dark Phrases, a people of color publication, for his 3d pieces that bring to life the importance of cultural recognition, Joshua Michael Martinez illustrates the need for historical ancestry and political activism to be connected through art.

For more information on Xeno, go to http://www.xeno-art.blogspot.com.