ENRIQUE M. BUELNA
Historian, Researcher, Artist, Writer, Sculptor, Academic, Philosopher, & Rebel
I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. I am a historian, writer, researcher, painter, and sculptor, driven by a commitment to recover and highlight the lived experiences and contributions of Mexican Americans and Chicanos in U.S. history.
My scholarly work focuses on the intersections of class, race, labor, civil rights, immigration, culture, and identity. I am the author of Chicano Communists and the Struggle for Social Justice (University of Arizona Press, 2019) and a contributor to Alternative Planning History and Theory (Routledge, 2023), along with numerous published op-ed articles examining contemporary political and social issues.
Alongside my academic work, my art reflects the Mexican American and Indigenous roots that form the foundation of our community’s identity and culture. My visual work incorporates themes and imagery drawn from food, religious iconography, flora and fauna, tradition, and contemporary popular culture. My art has been featured in Journal X (2023 and 2024), a publication showcasing art, photography, poetry, and literature.
I earned my Doctorate in History from the University of California, Irvine, a Master of Public Administration from the University of Washington, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Santa Barbara.