About The Artist
For the past several years, I’ve been painting in oil, exploring different effects I can create with this malleable medium. Recently, I have been using shapes and colors to create mostly abstract paintings. Some of the shapes are abstract and others are elements of reality. My most recent paintings in this realm are inspired by alebrijes (ah-lay-bree-hays), a form of Mexican folk art. Alebrijes are wood-carved animals, people, things, or fantastical creatures. They are intricately painted with bright colors and patterns. The colors I use are bright and saturated, the forms are more abstract, and all are painted with patterns and embellishments. Color is a predominant concern: I use color to imbue my work with visual excitement and beauty, but also with a sense of humor and playfulness.
Licita Fernández was born in El Paso, Texas, on March 10, 1946, to a Mexican father and an American mother. She was raised in East San Diego and in La Jolla, CA, where she started a family. After studying at the University of California at San Diego for two years, she transferred to UC Berkeley where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1971 with a BA in art.
Ms. Fernández has been creating art since she was old enough to hold a pen or pencil. She has exhibited in the Bay Area, CA since 1976. She has also exhibited her artwork in Portland, Oregon; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and in Mexico she’s exhibited in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Tijuana.
Initially, Licita’s primary medium was watercolor, her subject matter botanical. When she began painting in acrylic, she veered away from representational art and allowed herself the freedom to explore abstract and whimsical subject matter. Licita is currently working in oil, delighting in the ways oil paint can be manipulated where acrylic paint cannot. She has used digital art to draw out ideas that she will use for her oil paintings. She is looking ahead to when she will explore different textures in oil and with acrylic paint, using thickening gels and sand.
Licita Fernández’s artwork is in collections in the western and southern USA, Hawaii, and in Bogotá, Colombia.
Art-related employment (pre-computers): designing business cards; illustrating books; creating art for Les Blank and Maureen Gosling, independent filmmakers; graphic artist at CommonArts, Berkeley, CA. She has also taught art to all ages, from preschoolers to seniors. Currently retired, Ms. Fernández creates art in her home studio.
Oil Paint, Acrylic Paint, Pastel, Drawing, Digital Art
Studio Information
Art Works Downtown
Art Works Downtown is home to many artist studios, galleries, and more. Many of the artists will be participating in Marin Open Studios, so one stop enables you to see the artwork of many artists.
Contact Information
510-381-0237
Exhibitions & Press
Solo Exhibitions
2024
Falkirk Cultural Center, San Rafael, CA. “Kit and Kaboodle” Oil and Acrylic Paintings.
2023
Art Works Downtown, San Rafael, CA ‘Variety Is the Spice of Life’ Oil and Acrylic Paintings, Drawings
2023
Thompson Dorfman Architects, Mill Valley, CA ‘Art for the Heart and Mind: Lift Your Spirit and IQ’ Oil and Acrylic Paintings, Drawings
2022-2023
Sausalito Library, Sausalito, CA. Paintings and Drawings
2022
Falkirk Cultural Center, San Rafael, CA. New Paintings and Drawings
1999 T
Third Street Grind, Oakland, CA. “Botanical Rhythms, Part II” Watercolors
1997
Brian Marki Gallery, Portland, OR. Watercolors & monoprints
1996
Red Oak Realty Gallery, Berkeley, CA. “Botanical Rhythms, Part I” Watercolors
1993
Glenview Realty, Oakland, CA. Watercolors
1992
Dow and Frosini Gallery, Berkeley, CA. Watercolors
1988
Koncepts Cultural Gallery, Oakland, CA. Watercolors
1984
Grand Oak Gallery, Oakland, CA. “Dancers of Color” Watercolors
Group Exhibitions
2025
Spectrum 2025, online. Painting
2024
Art Works Downtown, San Rafael, CA. “Members Show” Painting
Falkirk Cultural Center, San Rafael, CA. “A Gathering of Color” Painting
Sausalito Village at Sausalito Center for the Arts, “Intergenerational Art Show”
Sausalito, CA, Painting
Sausalito Center for the Arts, “Milagros y Memorias, Dia de Los Muertos”,
Sausalito, CA, Paintings
Marin Art and Garden Center, Ross, CA One painting each from Marin Open Studios 2024
Bon Air Pop Up Window Exhibition, Greenbrae, CA Painting
Arc Gallery, San Francisco, CA, Painting
Magix, online, “Magic” Painting
Exhibizone Grand Prize, online, Painting
2nd Annual Colorium, online, ”Exhibition and Publication”, Painting
KBM Art Gallery, online, “Show Off Your Art”, Painting
2023
Sausalito Center for the Arts, “Spotlight”, Sausalito, CA Acrylic paintings
2022-2023
Sausalito Library, Sausalito, CA Paintings and Drawings
Art Works Downtown, “Cornucopia”, San Rafael, CA Acrylic painting
2023
Bon Air Center #101, Greenbrae, CA Drawing
2022
Bon Air Center #101, Greenbrae, CA Painting
2022
Falkirk Cultural Center, San Rafael, CA Oil paintings, charcoal, pastel, Prismacolor drawings
2017
The Arc Gallery, “Snap” San Francisco, CA Acrylics
2002
Los Medranos College Gallery, Pittsburg, CA Watercolors and acrylics
1992-1999
ProArts Open Studios, Oakland, CA Watercolors
1995
Galería de la Raza, San Francisco, CA “A Devotional Legacy: Día de Los Muertos 1972-1995” Watercolors
3COM Corporation Exhibit, Santa Clara, CA Watercolors
Patricia Stewart/Oberon Gallery, Napa, CA “Hispanic Perspective” Watercolors
1990
Center for the Visual Arts, Oakland, CA “A Multi-Cultural Perspective of the African- American Experience” Watercolors
1989
The Bottger Mansion Gallery, Albuquerque, New Mexico “The Emerging Hispanic Woman” Watercolors
1988-89
The Jessel Gallery, Napa, CA Watercolors
1987
Banaker Gallery, Walnut Creek, CA Watercolors
Lotería Nacional Building, Mexico City, Mexico “Mexican-American Artists” Watercolors Show traveled to Guadalajara and Tijuana as well.
1985
The Watercolor Gallery, Berkeley, CA “in shades of spring & summer” Watercolors
Galería de La Raza, San Francisco, CA “Women X Women” Watercolors
The Mexican Museum, San Francisco, CA “New Directions: Artistas Chicanas, 6 Women Artists” Slide presentation, watercolors, Prismacolor pencil drawings
1981
The Mexican Museum, San Francisco, CA “Two Sources: A Survey of Mexican-American and Mexican Women Artists” Watercolors
Galería de La Raza, San Francisco, CA Watercolors and Prismacolor pencil drawings
1980
Nuevo Graphics Gallery, Santa Fe New Mexico Prismacolor pencil drawings
1976
The Glenn Gallery, El Cerrito, CA Watercolors
2024
“Joy” Arc Gallery & Studios National Juried Exhibition Catalogue, San Francisco, pg. 36
Gallerium Art Prize Catalogue, pg. 68
Exhibizone Grand Prize Catalogue, pg. 47
Magix Group Exhibition Catalogue, pg. 53
2000
Mexican Museum “Chicanos en Mictlan/Dia de Los Muertos in California” Catalogue, pg. 77
1987
Loteria Nacional Para Asistencia Publica “Artistas Mexico/Americanos de San Francisco, California” Catalogue, pg. 14
2024
Marin Independent Journal Write-up with photo of one of the paintings in Marin Open Studios 2024, San Rafael, CA
2002
Los Medranos College Experience The Arts: “A Salute to Latinos’ Artistry” review by Monica Drolet of the “Regalos Culturales” exhibit at Los Medranos College in Pittsburg, CA
Pittsburgh Ledger Dispatch “Gift of Art at LMC” (Los Medranos College) announcing the exhibit “Regalos Culturales” Pittsburg, CA
East Bay Express Write-Up of “Regalos Culturales” exhibit at Los Medranos College, Pittsburg, CA
1998
Oakland Post “Students Learn to Reuse Waste Products” Write-up about 1000 Faces mask-making at Edna Brewer Middle School, Oakland, CA
1996
Hills Publications “Red Oak Realty hosts ‘Botanical Rhythms'” a one-woman exhibit of watercolors of botanical subject matter, Berkeley, CA
East Bay Express “‘Botanical Rhythms’ opens at gallery” Write-up about the exhibit at the Red Oak Realty, a one-woman exhibit of watercolors of botanical subject matter, San Francisco Bay Area, CA
1995
Oakland Tribune “Oakland Shows Its ‘Faces'” by Lynda Seaver. Write-up about the 1000 Faces mask-making project in Oakland, CA
Oakland Tribune “The People Behind the Masks” photo by Ray Chavez of two project artists and students with their papier mache masks, Oakland, CA
1994
Express of the San Francisco Bay Area “Altar of the Americas” in ArtBeat by Chiori Santiago about the altar Xotchitl Guerrero and Licita Fernandez are creating for the Festival at the Lake’s ‘1000 Faces Exhibit’ in Oakland, CA
The Montclarion “Masks depict Oakland diversity in June festival” Write-up NA, photos by Jeff Lindquist
1992
San Francisco Bay Guardian “Critic’s Choice – Art” by Harry Roche re: East Bay Open Studios
1989, 1990, 1991
The Monthly in Berkeley, CA They used three different watercolors for their covers.
Education
University of California at San Diego for two years, then transferred to:
University of California at Berkeley where I graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a Bachelor’s degree in art.
Earned a teacher credential through Project Pipeline to teach elementary school.
