The Gallery
Founded in October 2018 by Jake Prendez & Judy Avitia-Gonzalez, The Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery is a multi-use multi-cultural accessible arts gallery grounded in the Chicana/o Latinx arts traditions. In 2024 Nepantla won bronze in the Seattle Times "Best in the PNW in the Art Gallery category.
The Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery is located on the border of West Seattle and the White Center neighborhood. We host monthly art exhibitions focused on marginalized communities and communities of color. We offer an ever growing gift shop with unique collection of apparel, jewelry, handmade gifts, and amazing works of art by local and national artists. The Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery also serves as a community space for events such as arts related lectures and workshops, open mics, and community forums. The Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery serves as the Latinx/Chicanx arts hub of Seattle. We strive to provide a welcoming space for community to celebrate cultura.
Nepantla is a Nahuatl (Aztec language) term which describes being in the middle or the space in the middle. The term was popularized by Chicana writer/scholar Gloria Anzaldua. Most often the term references endangered communities, cultures or gender who due to colonialism/marginalization or historical trauma, that engage in resistance strategies of survival. Nepantla becomes the alternative space in which to live, heal, function and create.
Our goal is to make art an accessible experience. The Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery brings voice to our community, it allows us to share our story to the larger Seattle Community. Your support is greatly appreciated.
The Directors
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jake prendez
Owner/ Co-director
Jake Prendez was born in San Jacinto California but raised in Bothell Washington. He returned to California after receiving his Bachelor’s in American Ethnic Studies from the University of Washington to work on his Master’s in Chicana/o Studies from CSU Northridge.
Jake Prendez is a celebrated Chicano artist and co-owner of the Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery, who has dedicated his life to creating powerful and evocative art that speaks to the heart of Chicano culture. His work is a testament to his unwavering commitment to social justice and his unique ability to blend satire with profound meaning. Drawing from his own life experiences, His vibrant creations are an intricate fusion of his Seattle and Los Angeles roots, capturing the essence of love, heartbreak, oppression, resilience, laughter, and tears. Each piece of art is a raw, unfiltered expression of the human experience, masterfully transformed and poured out onto the canvas. Jake currently serves on the board of 4Culture.
Judy Avitia-Gonzalez
Owner/Co-director
Judy Avitia-Gonzalez was born in the beautiful barrio of Boyle Heights of East Los Angeles to Mexican immigrant parents. Her family moved to Seattle in the early 90’s and settled in the White Center neighborhood. She attended Highline Public Schools and South Seattle College studying business and health care.
In 2023, Judy was selected out of 1,200 nationwide applicants to participate in the NALAC, National Association of Latino Arts and Culture, leadership institute in San Antonio, TX. Most recently, Judy was one of the guest speakers at the "Celebrate Latina Bilingual Women's Conference" in Seattle, WA. She serves on the board of the White Center Community Development Association.
Judy is an aspiring photographer and a mother of 3, raising a son and two daughters in the same neighborhood that she grew up in. She has become a strong and trusted community organizer which over the years has led to many close partnerships with community groups and cultural arts organizations. She is a bilingual, unapologetic, Chicana Chingona.
Judy hopes the Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery will create a welcoming space for community, especially for our youth, something she feels she did not have growing up in White Center.
Stay Connected
Address: 9414 Delridge Way SW, Seattle, WA 98106
Email: nepantlaculturalarts@gmail.com
Hours: Thursday-Sunday 12pm-6pm
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