I didn’t know him. I saw one of his illustrations on my Facebook wall; someone had shared his work along with congratulations for his participation in the art collective “Todos Somos Coyote” in Tijuana (We are all Coyote), promoting voting through artistic urban intervention along 6th street in the center of the city. I liked the image I saw, full of quality and originality. It had attractive symbolism, and so I finally “Liked” it and read some of the comments (and was glad to know he lived here in Puerto Peñasco), so I opted to include a comment, proposing a future interview. He could easily read it, or just as easily let it go by.
I was surprised when he responded kindly though with certain ambiguity (obviously, since I didn’t present myself formally). Nevertheless, in a kidding tone we continued our conversation within the comments and decided on a place, time, and date – in Burbuda Studio and Gallery (his gallery, his work space, and “man cave”), for a Tuesday at 6 p.m. 
Surely we had crossed paths before on the street, yet I am almost sure that neither of us knew who would be on the other side of the door. Even though you can search for faces on Facebook, you never know. I entered with a recorder in hand (a cell-phone with a very useful app) and with it “Chago” began losing the informal touch with which we had communicated earlier, so I chose the “artist’s” mode of an informal chat for the “interview” (the one who would have to suffer in carrying the recorder back and forth was me). He was busy with some paintings, but showed me around; I would have liked to watch him work but I suppose that would have to be at another time, I guess for him this time was like a short break.
Romero Chagoyán, or Chago as he’s called by his friends (also known artistically as Antiú), is a nice, calm person, a bit reserved but a good guy, down-to-earth and with a great sense of humor. He is a designer and lover of urban art; he explains, “It’s a versatile, creative, malleable art as you can take whatever and transform it.” Very creative, but I don’t have to say anything, his gallery speaks for itself. This small yet organized space contained everything: paint, spray-cans, pencils, a camera, multiple and varied decorations and even a small space with drinks for friends (or for inspiration), a computer, and powerful lamps alongside framed art work among other things. He does everything by hand, each painting is 100% pure heart and soul.
“Chago” began drawing and painting from the time he was 2 years old; he carried it in his soul. At 9 he entered a painting contest here in Peñasco through the Casa de Cultura, and then continued drawing through secondary and high school. That same love for creation drew him to a degree in architecture, but he chose graphic design instead. That filled him completely, so much so that he and a friend made shirts with phrases and drawings, along the lines of the popular “NaCo” style.
Romero explains, while gesturing with his hands, “Afterwards, I asked a friend “so, what do we do with this?” and suddenly “this” (the creativity and urgency we had to do things) became a stencil…. in following some artists from the US, some graffiti artists, and urban artists particularly Shepard Fairey.” This pushed him to believe more in his art, to continue thinking about the next step; so he started to concentrate more on his career.
By 2002 he had begun to paint on wood and experiment with different materials. He was being invited to music events in Mexicali, to ranches and raves where he would set up his easels and let others admire his art. “I saw people begin to like it and ask about what I was painting, so my friend and I kept on; though we were wrapped up in doing paintings, it continued to be urban art (mixed media as they say) as it is a collage of forms, textures and techniques, pencil, stencils, pens, newspaper, watercolor, oil paint, glue, whatever there is… However, we also do not marry ourselves to canvas,” – that is when he showed me an extravagantly painted elephant he has on his desk (which I adored). Next to that there is a small antique looking picture frame, containing an attractive picture. “That is my friend Ginggi, from Mexicali. She came as an invited artist when I inaugurated the gallery in December of 2011. There….in the lobby,” he laughed, pointing to one part of his studio, “…she showed her work. She is one who sees something, takes it and then paints it however she would like; she transforms or personalizes it, to say it that way; I liked this one and I bought it from her.”
Getting back on track, he told me that Pablo Stanley, an acquaintance of his (who is known on the social media website 9gag) has a brand of clothes in Mexicali, Stanley + Colors, and he invited Chagoyan to show. As Chagoyan tells it, “Each month he would invite someone different and that is where everything took off; he had to do various paintings with that commitment and that was where I sold my first creations, just like that. The people liked my work and liked that I painted on wood with designs that were kind of dark, zombies, with skulls and whiskers…as you can see. I sold my first one and then another person commissioned 4 for his apartment. I was very excited, how could I not be? That’s how it unfolded…This motivated me and I continued. I sold, I traveled, and I began to get into illustration and then I was invited to participate in a group in Mexico City.”
Even though he’s been invited to other expos, that which he most recalls, aside from “Todos Somos Coyote”, was when he was invited to Mexico City – with street bars, an artistic life, all very bohemian, recognition, artists, and many people that speak the same language. Plus, the night life in the D.F. (Mexico City) is vibrant.
Chagoyan notes, “I don’t live from art, I live from design, but I have sold and I have been invited to events and expos, enough to motivate me and continue with this. I have also not left my degree aside, as I also like that.” Bit by bit his art has begun to permeate diverse areas such as album designs for different groups including “Flores para los muertos” by Nana Pancha, some paintings for homes, possibly some t-shirts that still survive, and recently he left his mark somewhere in Tijuana.
Chagoyan has some interesting projects coming his way (one in Playa del Carmen that sounds quite interesting, among others), including an Expo this coming Friday, July 20th, at his Barbuda gallery located in the malecón (next to the Blue Marlin). The expo is a very original way of celebrating his birthday.
More of Chagoyan’s (Chago’s) artwork may be seen on Facebook at Anitú. The Barbuda Gallery is located in the Old Port, next to the Blue Marlin and up the street from Mare Blu Bistro.