William Acedo - prints and biography

Biography

William Acedo (b. 1950s) is a Los Angeles–based printmaker whose intricately detailed works capture both the cultural life and layered histories of the city he has called home since 1988. A long-time member of the Artists Roundtable at Self Help Graphics & Art—the city’s leading nonprofit visual arts center serving the Latino community—Acedo has been an active participant in one of the most influential centers of Chicano and Latinx printmaking in the United States.

Acedo’s prints carry forward the strong narrative traditions of Latin American woodcut, a medium long associated with social engagement, storytelling, and community history. While his subject matter is distinctly contemporary, often depicting Los Angeles scenes and urban life, his style resonates with the timeless power of relief printmaking. His works are visually rich and conceptually layered, frequently carrying narratives that reflect both personal observation and broader cultural themes.

One of Acedo’s most celebrated works, On Route to County, presents a sweeping view of Boyle Heights as seen from the First Street Bridge. The piece has become emblematic of his ability to merge technical precision with social and cultural storytelling. It has earned significant recognition, finding a place in the permanent collections of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the San Antonio Museum of Art, the Denver Art Museum, and the Art Institute of Chicago. The work is also held in the private collection of actor and art collector Cheech Marin, underscoring its cultural resonance.

Beyond his own studio practice, Acedo has given back to the community by assisting with Self Help Graphics’ annual Día de los Muertos celebration, including its well-known papier-mâché calavera workshops. Through this, he continues to support the intergenerational traditions that sustain Chicano and Mexican-American culture in Los Angeles.

With his fusion of narrative imagery, technical mastery, and community involvement, William Acedo has become an important voice in contemporary American printmaking—one rooted in Los Angeles but resonant far beyond.