Joel Gaytan is a Mexican artist living in Walla Walla, WA. Joel earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Eastern Washington University in 2018.
Gaytan was born in Zacatecas, Mexico. At the age of two, his family immigrated to Walla Walla, Washington. From an early age, he began to draw, and was influenced by American cartoons such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Batman. The discovery of comic books introduced Joel to a new type of art that inspired him to keep drawing. Joel then began collecting a wide range of comics from yard sales, thrift stores and comic shops.
Ultimately, it was his love of comic books that solidified his decision to create art for a living. The majority of his work consists of drawings and paintings that meld caricature, portraiture, and surreal imagery from his Mexican heritage and American upbringing.