¡Viva La Fiesta!, an exhibit honoring cultural pride, familial ties, and community connection, featuring the works of Mexican-American artist Pedro De La Cruz, will be on display July 26-Aug. 31 at Art & Soul Gallery, 1323 State St.

The exhibit’s public opening, 5-8 p.m. Saturday, July 26 will include live mariachi, flamenco dancing, and a chance to meet the artist, who is now based in Santa Barbara,

De La Cruz, a self-taught artist born in Tijuana, Mexico, is known for his bold use of color and expressive depictions of everyday life.

Drawing from his Jalisco and Sonoran heritage, De La Cruz creates tableaux that portray culture, joy, and belonging, rooted in his own story of sketching as a child, selling popsicles to help support his family, and finding solace in art.

“Blending influences from post-modern colorists and cubists such as Picasso, Matisse, Modigliani, Kahlo, Warhol, and Basquiat, De La Cruz has developed a singular visual language, one infused with warmth, rhythm, and heart,” the gallery said. “Working quickly in acrylics and ink, he embraces spontaneity and raw emotion, painting ‘in the moment’ to capture fleeting feelings before they fade.”

Inspired by Santa Barbara’s Old Spanish Days Fiesta — a tradition since 1924 that celebrates the region’s cultural history through music, dance, and community gatherings — De La Cruz offers a visual tribute to the beloved event, the gallery said.

Art & Soul is a contemporary art gallery open noon-6 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and noon-4 p.m. Sundays, with private viewings by appointment.