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César Augusto Martínez (born 1944 in Laredo, Texas) is an artist, prominent in the field of Chicano art. While studying at what was then called Texas A&I College (later Texas A&I University), he became involved in the Chicano movement for civil rights. He subsequently befriended several of its leaders.
Martínez is best-known for his depictions of Chicano social types, which are referred to generically as 'batos" and "rucas." They are composite images, taken from vintage magazines, photographs, yearbook pictures, obituaries, and other sources. The artist has refined these images in paintings, drawings, and prints for many years.Martínez also takes mythological subjects, South Texas folklore, and the Southwest landscape as subjects. He is also a photographer.
Martínez has been based in San Antonio, Texas since 1971.