How Public Art is Shaping Chattanooga’s Cultural Identity

Alex Paul Loza

Artist and sculptor Alex Paul Loza discovered his passion for art at a young age in Lima, Peru. Encouraged by his mother, maternal grandparents and a supportive high school art teacher in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, Loza pursued his artistic journey. After studying under master painter Harry Ahn and earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the American Academy of Art in Chicago, Loza moved with his family to Chattanooga in 2010. 

“The city’s dynamic community, natural beauty and growing arts scene have made it an inspiring and supportive home for us,” Loza says. 

Loza’s connection to Chattanooga deepened through his involvement with the local arts community. His public artwork brings beauty to the city and fosters a sense of pride, particularly within the Latino community. 

Dreaming Forward/Soñando: Celebrating Chattanooga’s Latino Community

A key collaboration has been with ArtsBuild, a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through art in Hamilton County. The organization has created public artworks championing the city’s diverse culture, history and values. 

One piece, “Dreaming Forward/ Soñando,” honors the resilience and dreams of Chattanooga’s Latino community and celebrates the multicultural influences that shape the city. It’s the city’s first Latino mural and a significant cultural landmark. 

“As a Latino artist,” Loza says, “I felt deeply compelled to create a public piece where our community, especially the younger generation, can find representation, inspiration and a sense of ownership. This mural is a reminder that the baton is being passed on to them to shape the future, to dream and to lead.” 

ArtsBuild is Strengthening Communities Through Art

Putting the mission into action, Loza invited community members to grab their brushes and help paint the mural. 

Joined by former Mayor Andy Berke and his family, together, they produced an inspiring symbol of unity and pride, representing a future in which children contribute to the growth and prosperity in Chattanooga and beyond. (Berke’s administration helped increase funding for ArtsBuild.) 

“Dreaming Forward/Soñando” was unveiled on Sept. 16, 2018. A smaller mural lived in City Hall for two years, sparking conversations among city officials and guests. Since Sept. 2, 2022, a partial replica resides at Chattanooga’s Creative Discovery Museum, where it continues to inspire others to connect with the city’s heritage and “dream forward.” 

The Power of Public Art

Loza encourages artists and cities to continue investing in public art as a way of fostering cultural pride and preserving history. 

“Projects like these succeed because they’re a shared effort,” Loza says. “The more inclusive and collaborative they are, the more meaningful their impact will be.”