Anna Jaquez (born 1953) is an American artist, art professor and metalsmith. She lives and works in El Paso, Texas.[1] Jaquez is an art professor at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP).[2] She has work in the permanent collection of the El Paso Museum of Art.[1]
Jaquez' father was a builder who added onto their house frequently.[3] Jaquez later attended the University of Texas at El Paso.
Jaquez still draws inspiration from the use of odd materials that her father incorporated into his building.[3]
Jaquez' work explores the interplay of small, detailed items within larger scale structures.[1]Gaspar Enriquez, who Jaquez met as a graduate student at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) in the late 1980s, was an influence on her as a teacher.[4] She also interprets the poetry of Pat Mora in her metal work.[5] Other influences include using her own life and childhood as inspiration, including her Mexican-American culture in her art.[1][3] Jaquez feels that her work in art helped her to become "proud of her Mexican heritage."[6]
Jaquez made art jewelry for many years before becoming a large-scale sculptor.[1] She "started out working at her kitchen table where she could carve out a place for her creative expression in the context of her domestic responsibilities."[7]