Valley Visions: The Art of Oneida Aceves Treviño
- Beth Marie Cantu Ensign
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
(This article was written by Beth Marie Cantu Ensign and was featured in the June 2025 issue of Explore Harlingen Magazine.)
As you make your way through Harlingen, keep an eye out—you might just spot art quietly speaking from the walls. Toward the end of Jackson Street, a beautiful ballerina mural gazes out over the sidewalk, a guardian of sorts, at the Rio Grand Valley Arts Studio (RGVAS). It's more than just a mural; it’s a symbol of inspiration. Beneath her watchful eye, young artists emerge from the studio, many of them students of the very artist who brought her to life.
For Oneida Aceves Treviño, art is more than a profession—it’s a personal journey woven through culture, family, and community. A native of Harlingen, Treviño is the lead artist and instructor at Creative Explorations RGV, housed out of RGVAS, where she shares her talents with students ranging in age from toddlers to adults.
Treviño can relate to her younger students, as she too grew up around art. “Both my parents would draw… My mother would draw Marvel and DC comics for us like Wonder Woman and Batman… and my dad, he would draw portraits of celebrities,” she recalls. “That kind of inspired all of us children to be drawing.”
That early spark was additionally nurtured by dedicated teachers at Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District (HCISD) who encouraged her artistic potential. “Specifically my high school art teacher, she was always pushing me… ‘You have a skill. You can do well with this,’” Treviño shares. With the support of her family and teachers, she went on to earn a degree in fine arts from the University of Texas Pan American.
Treviño draws her inspiration from a variety of iconic artists, such as Mary Cassat, Frida Kahlo, and Diego Rivera – and the influence is apparent in Treviño’s vibrant, bold, and emotional works. Yet Treviño’s art defies a single classification. “My art is very erratic,” she laughs. “Whereas you might see a lot of painting on my social media, I'm constantly doing all kinds of other stuff.” Acrylic is her go-to, as is outdoor mural work, but she’s explored sculpture, ceramics, metalwork, jewelry making, charcoal, and pencil. “I'm always on this journey to figure things out,” she says.
Despite her eccentric artistic voice, cultural identity clearly plays a huge role in her style. “When I was a teenager… I did a lot of Lowrider type art,” she explains. “But as I got a little bit older… I started to connect with [the culture]. What does it mean to be Hispanic? What does it mean to be a Valley [resident]—which is very different from San Antonio or Corpus or Dallas… We have a very specific little culture here.”
This sense of place is reflected in Treviño’s public projects. She enjoys sharing her art reflecting native plants, animals, and birds. “It is about appreciating [what is] around us and making sure… that we are accountable and that we're looking out for others in our community and especially [local] nature.”
Treviño sees art as a vital tool for community connection and self-expression. “You might be having a bad day… [then] some artwork that resonates with you in whatever way… might make your day or it might remind you of someone.”
Since 2019, Treviño has taught classes at RGVAS, starting as an assistant to her former teacher. “I really enjoy it… the more I teach my students, the more I'm learning not just about my craft but about myself,” she says.
Treviño is known for adapting her lessons for a wide range of learners. “I might have a 50-year-old in class with a five-year-old and it's a lot of exploration.”
Balancing her own projects with teaching is a challenge, but also a creative opportunity. “Sometimes it's a juggling… but I’ll try to incorporate some of the students into creating [alongside myself],” she explains. “That way they get experience.”
Currently, Treviño is pushing herself into new territory with plans for a large-scale sculpture. “That's my goal this year… I wanna see if I can push the limits or push my limits, but I’m thinking… metal or wood.”
For Treviño, the path of an artist is less about destination and more about exploring the path. She believes the creative process thrives on experimentation, patience, and a willingness to try new things. Rather than aiming for perfection, she encourages artists of all ages and backgrounds to stay open to change, allowing their work to grow alongside their experiences. “Continue working and practice your craft,” she says. “Don’t give up and don’t get discouraged.”
In Treviño’s view, every sketch, sculpture, or mural is a step in a natural connection between the artist and the world around them.
You can find Oneida Aceves Treviño’s artwork and more information on her classes on Facebook, Instagram under Creative Explorations RGV.
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