Meet Lupita Murillo Tinnen | Artist and Dean of Fine Arts at Collin College

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lupita Murillo Tinnen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lupita, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I asked for my first camera when I was 9 years old. It had nothing to do with the act of photographing but more to do with the fact that it was hot pink and it was the 80s! I began creating still lifes and taking images around my house with a 110 camera. The negatives were tiny at 13 mm × 17 mm for each frame so they resulted in grainy and often blurry images. I began to enjoy the act of photographing and loved the images I was creating so I took photography classes in high school. It was my photojournalism teacher, Terry Buckner, that encouraged me to go to college to study photography and pursue a Bachelor’s degree. Once I was in college, I never considered any other option for my major. I went on to pursue a Master of Fine Arts in Photography and continued creating photographic works when I completed the creative work for my Ph.D. in Aesthetic Studies. I am now dean over the fine arts at Collin College, but continue to make work because it’s what creative types do.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Since I started using photography to tell stories, I have used my family and my background as a first-generation Mexican-American as the subject matter. Photographing my family started in 1995 as a class project in college but evolved into creating work about Latin American immigrants. There were not many role models doing the same type of work, but my mentors were encouraging and supportive, which gave me the confidence to continue. My college professor Bill McDowell encouraged me to tell my family’s story. Before that time, I had been embarrassed by my background and didn’t want people to know where I came from. I especially didn’t want my peers to know that my parents were Mexican immigrants that didn’t speak English and had an elementary school education. Doors opened up for me when I began embracing my culture and experiences. I am proud of where I’ve been, where I am now, and my future. What keeps me busy now is mentoring other young artists and faculty as the dean of fine arts at Collin College.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
It’s been a long time since I’ve been out on the town. I have two 9 year-old-twins that keep me busy at home. However, if my best friend were visiting the area, I would take them to all the different museums and galleries that the DFW area has to offer. There are amazing large museums like the Dallas Museum of Art, Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth Modern, and the Amon Carter Museum. There are smaller private galleries that I enjoy visiting such as PDNB and city venues such as the Latino Cultural Center. I would take my best friend to an immersive art experiences such as the Sweet Tooth Hotel. In the evening, we might catch a show at the Undermain Theatre. A few years ago, I would have taken my best friend to the Cosmic Cafe for a meal, but it has closed down.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Several mentors lifted me up and inspired me to be the artist I am today. I would like to recognize Terry Buckner, my first photography teacher; Bill McDowell, my college photography professor; Dornith Doherty, my graduate school mentor; and Marilyn Waligore, the chair of my dissertation committee. I also want to thank my husband of 21 years, Chris Tinnen. I would not be where I am today without his support.

Image Credits
©Lupita Murillo Tinnen ©Raul Rodriguez