In the 1970s, a groundbreaking art collective named ASCO emerged from East Los Angeles, challenging societal norms and the mainstream art world. Artists Patssi Valdez, Willie Herrón III, Gronk and Harry Gamboa Jr. initially formed ASCO. This organization—which translates to “nausea” or “disgust” in Spanish—provided the Chicano community with a national platform to vocalize their anger and resentment towards systematic abuses such as police violence and racial segregation. Their artistic pursuits became deeply impactful works. They remained important acts of defiance against a culture that too easily dismissed them and their lives.
The collective was obviously influenced by Hollywood cinema and pop culture. They took their radical practice beyond poetic habits, toting their known critiques and acts of creation through their performances and conceptual artworks. ASCO’s legacy has endured, continuing to influence contemporary Chicano artists who adopt a DIY ethos reminiscent of the group’s original rebellious spirit.
The Founders and Their Vision
ASCO was formed amid the backdrop of cultural exclusion. Our artistic vision was what brought all of us founding members—Valdez, Herrón, Gronk, Gamboa—together. They were bonded through the pain of their mutual experiences of marginalization. As the only female founder, Valdez faced a different hurdle. She did this while simultaneously fighting both sexism and racism.
Valdez’s artistic experience echoes the struggle and underrepresentation many female artists of color experience today. She stated, “I couldn’t stand it. So, I was able to act out these forms of censorship through the performance work in ASCO.” Her work served to express her own frustrations, and it was an effort to reshape how society viewed women in the sphere of art.
This ethos soon became core to the ASCO identity. More importantly, they pushed to reimagine what it meant to be an artist in their community.
“You do not need permission to be yourself. You do not need permission to be creative. You do not need permission to be intellectual.”
ASCO’s art frequently moved in provocative directions, forcing individuals to face difficult realities. One of their resulting masterworks, “Spray Paint LACMA,” included an iconic portrait of Valdez, photographed by Gamboa. And this performance piece was the ideal representation of ASCO’s mission. It sought to undermine the status quo and call attention to the marginalization of Chicanos from major art institutions.
Provocative Art and Performance
Valdez participated in the IMPACT performance “Instant Mural.” In a rebellious move against censorship, she taped her performance to the wall of an art gallery. These works were more than performative spectacles; they were radical declarations of existence and resistance.
This simple statement goes to the heart of ASCO’s larger purpose, to uplift marginalized voices that have been drowned out for so long.
Even though their work was some of the most groundbreaking and innovative, ASCO was frequently suppressed and banned from appearing in traditional galleries and museums. Curators dismissed their contributions, with one stating, “Chicanos are in gangs, they don’t make art.” Like we’ve previously written, such statements were indicative of a much broader lack of understanding around Chicano culture and artistry at the time.
“And the thing is, you cannot allow yourself to be repressed or silenced and or visually curtailed from presenting works.”
Pilar Tompkins-Rivas pointed out that there was a time when Latinx art was deemed nonexistent, saying, “There was another era when people said, ‘Latinx art, you know, doesn’t exist. It’s not a thing. It doesn’t belong. It’s not part of American art.’” This exclusion lit a fire under ASCO’s determination to stake their claim to existence in the art world.
Censorship and Legacy
Today, ASCO’s influence is unmistakable. Today, plenty of younger Chicano artists are fueled by that same influence from their do-it-yourself ethos and bad attitude. As Travis Gutiérrez Senger noted regarding the representation of Latino history in media:
This idea rings true to this day, as artists young and old still face the daily struggles of representation, identity and their overall worth.
The story of ASCO has been captured in the documentary “ASCO: Without Permission,” which features testimonials from respected Latino artists reflecting on the group’s impact. Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal executive produced the film through their joint production company, El Corriente del Golfo. This serves to remind us of the timeliness and relevance of ASCO’s work in today’s world.
“I think it’s a necessary obligation as a Latino if you’re making films to fight very, very hard to put brown people on screen and behind the camera and to try to create films about our history.”
Michael Peña highlighted the importance of recognizing Latino contributions to culture, stating:
The Documentary and Continuing Influence
ASCO’s narrative serves as a vital reminder of the rich stories and histories yet to be told within the broader context of American art.
Michael Peña highlighted the importance of recognizing Latino contributions to culture, stating:
“Our history as Latinos is not in the history books. The movements that we’ve had are not in the history books.”
ASCO’s narrative serves as a vital reminder of the rich stories and histories yet to be told within the broader context of American art.