10/23/2026
Today, we remember and celebrate Santa Paula artist Xavier “Big X” Montes (1952–2020), who was born in 1952.
The Museum was recently gifted a copy of a 2005 documentary about Montes produced by Victor Klaus. We've excerpted footage from the documentary to create this short video in celebration of Xavier's birthday and his enduring legacy.
With Día de los Mu***os approaching, we're remembering what an extraordinary person Xavier was and the deep love he had for music, art, his cultural heritage, and the people of his hometown, Santa Paula.
As a founding board member of the Santa Paula Art Museum, Xavier helped shape our institution's commitment to collecting and celebrating Latino art. He was also a passionate advocate for making arts and music education accessible to children. His influence continues to be felt at the Museum and throughout the community he loved so dearly.
Two of Xavier's paintings are currently on view in “De Colores,” our current exhibition featuring Latino artists represented in the Museum's permanent collection, on view now through November 29.
📽 Footage excerpted from "Xavier Montes: Behind the Artist," a film by Victor Klaus, 2005.
