Meet Manuel Fernando Rios: An Artist, Educator, and Advocate for Cultural Expression

July 6th, 2026

Meet Manuel Fernando Rios, a Sacramento-based artist and educator whose work bridges personal memory, Chicano history, and contemporary social issues through a rich blend of figurative and abstract storytelling. From his early introduction to the Royal Chicano Air Force (R.C.A.F.) to becoming a Professor of Fine Art at Woodland Community College, Rios has built a career rooted in community, mentorship, and cultural advocacy.

Manuel’s layered paintings, prints, and mixed-media works invite viewers to reflect on identity, resilience, labor, and belonging while challenging the ways we remember the past. In this conversation, Rios shares how Sacramento shaped his artistic journey, why Midtown Second Saturday remains an essential part of the city’s creative ecosystem, and how his commitment to teaching continues to inspire both his students and his own evolving practice.

Can you share a bit about your background and what initially drew you to pursue art as a passion or career?

I moved to Sacramento from Hollister, California, at the age of 18 to attend college. My original goal was to become a high school art teacher, but that path shifted after I was introduced to the Sacramento-based collective, the Royal Chicano Air Force (R.C.A.F.) and met one of its founding members, Ricardo Favela, who was a professor of art at California State University, Sacramento. Through these connections, I was welcomed into the Chicano art community and developed meaningful relationships with artists and cultural advocates who shared my values and aspirations. Their mentorship, support, and example expanded my understanding of what was possible, inspiring me to fully embrace a career as both a professional artist and educator.

How would you describe your artistic style and what sets your work apart from other artists?

I would describe my artistic style as a multidisciplinary blend of figurative and abstract visual storytelling that combines personal memory, my Chicano cultural history, and social commentary. My work often incorporates family photographs, historical imagery, and contemporary issues affecting working-class communities, which I transform through image transfer, screen-printing, acrylic and oil painting. Layered compositions of geometric forms and representational imagery create spaces where past and present, personal and collective experiences intersect.

What sets my work apart is the way it navigates the complexity of memory as both a personal and cultural force. Rather than presenting history as fixed or nostalgic, I explore how memories can simultaneously hold joy and struggle, comfort and conflict. As a Chicano artist, I draw connections between my own lived experiences and broader themes of labor, resilience, identity, and belonging that resonate throughout the Mexican American experience.

How did you first get involved with Second Saturday, and what does it mean to you as a local artist?

I was first introduced to Second Saturday while I was an art student at California State University, Sacramento. The idea that galleries throughout the city would simultaneously open their exhibitions to the public was both exciting and transformative. Having grown up in a small town, I had little exposure to galleries and felt intimidated by them. I assumed they were exclusive spaces meant for the wealthy and that admission was required to view the artwork.

When I first attended Second Saturday, I felt somewhat out of place, but I was also energized by the opportunity to experience a world that had previously seemed inaccessible. Those evenings opened my eyes to the possibility of becoming part of a larger creative community. As I began exhibiting my own work in Sacramento, I grew more confident and developed a deeper sense of belonging within the region’s arts community.

I believe Second Saturday plays a vital role in fostering a vibrant and inclusive cultural landscape. It provides meaningful opportunities for emerging, mid-career, and established artists to share their work, connect with audiences, and engage with one another. By making art accessible to the public and creating spaces for dialogue and discovery, Second Saturday continues to inspire creativity and strengthen Sacramento’s artistic community.

How has living or working in Sacramento influenced your artistic style?

During my early years in college, my exposure to the Royal Chicano Air Force had a profound impact on my artistic development. Through their influence, I learned the process of screen-printing and witnessed how art could function as a powerful tool for social and political engagement. Inspired by the R.C.A.F.’s legacy, I created posters that supported human rights marches, community organizing, and cultural events, gaining a deeper understanding of art’s capacity to inform, mobilize, and build community.

As my practice evolved, I formed lasting friendships with fellow graduate students at California State University, Sacramento, whose thoughtful critiques and intellectual challenges pushed me to examine my work more critically. Their influence encouraged me to move beyond my figurative roots and experiment with sculpture, installation, and abstraction. This period of exploration expanded my understanding of form, material, and visual language.

Following graduate school, these experiences allowed me to merge the figurative imagery that had defined my early work with the abstract approaches I had developed through experimentation. The result is a hybrid visual language that combines representation and abstraction, personal narrative and formal exploration, a balance that continues to shape my artistic practice today.

What are some of your aspirations or goals as an artist, both in terms of your personal growth and the impact you hope to make through your art?

I feel fortunate to have achieved many of the artistic goals I set for myself throughout my career. As a Professor of Fine Art at Woodland Community College, my focus now is on giving back by sharing the knowledge, experiences, and opportunities that were generously passed on to me by mentors, elders, and peers. Teaching allows me to support the next generation of artists as they develop their creative voices and navigate their own artistic journeys. At the same time, my students continually challenge, inspire, and motivate me. Their curiosity, perspectives, and creative energy renew my commitment to making and exhibiting artwork, reminding me that artistic growth is a lifelong process of learning, exchange, and discovery.

How does participating in events like Midtown Second Saturday allow you to connect with your audience or community?

As artists, it is easy to become isolated and disconnected from the broader arts community. Second Saturday provides an important opportunity to step outside of that isolation and engage directly with the work of other artists across the city. These experiences often spark inspiration and renewed energy that artists carry back into their studios.

Beyond viewing artwork, Second Saturday fosters meaningful connection. It is a space to reconnect with familiar colleagues, learn about upcoming exhibitions, and engage in conversations about potential collaborations. It also creates opportunities to meet new artists, expand professional networks, and stay informed about emerging voices in the community.

At its core, Second Saturday serves as a vital community-building platform. It strengthens not only the arts community but also contributes to the cultural vitality and connectedness of the city as a whole.

Manuel’s mural, “Chicanismo,” serves as a stop on the new Midtown Mural Trail, a self-guided audio tour that visitors can explore at any time.

Live Midtown sponsors — 1801L, The Mansion Apartments, Eleanor H16 Apartments, MOD at Midtown, Lavender Courtyard, Studio30, and 19J — bring you this Midtown Second Saturday Artist Feature.

Explore Midtown living options and start your journey to finding your perfect home in vibrant Midtown here.