Dawn Martinez Oropeza

Dawn Martinez Oropeza is a Mexican-American artist and community leader based in Iowa. She earned her BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and MFA from the University of California San Diego. Her art explores cultural identity, immigration, and heritage through murals, installations, and community projects including Abuelita, Corn Goddess, and Mexihcahs: Keepers of the Fire. She served as Executive Director of Al Éxito, a youth mentoring organization for Latino students across Iowa, from 2013 to 2025.