home is where the art is Archives

Episode #148 – Rayos Magos – Mixed Media Artist, Muralist, and Printmaker

This podcast is also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Vimeo, and YouTube.

Rayos Magos grew up on the west side of San Jose, spending his childhood playing outside in a neighborhood duplex and drawing on stacks of printer paper while waiting for his parents to finish work. An introverted kid who used art as a natural way to navigate the world, he didn’t initially pursue a fine arts track. He shifted from graphic design to journalism at SF State before realizing that interviewing strangers at Muni stops was not his favorite thing to do. Eventually, he pivoted to earn degrees in psychology and to work on the front lines of community mental health.

It wasn’t until April 2021 that Magos left his nine-to-five counseling career behind to pursue art full-time. That psychological lens, however, remains foundational to his creative output. His practice has expanded past standard graphic printmaking into complex, large-scale mixed-media textiles, canvas manipulation, and embroidery. By digging through his parents’ basement archives—pulling out boxes of untouched elementary school portraits and childhood snapshots—Magos pieces together structural visual narratives that examine identity, contemporary Chicano culture, and Mesoamerican mythology.

Parallel to his studio practice, Magos continues to be out in the community, teaching and leading workshops for “Home Is Where the Art Is,” a creative workshop program built in partnership with the South Bay housing nonprofit HomeFirst. Stepping into transitional housing units to work with residents, Magos uses expressive arts to break through hesitancy and creative baggage that adults often carry. The workshops culminate in a formal gallery exhibition and art auction where 100% of the proceeds are returned directly to the residents, utilizing the creative sector to generate immediate financial autonomy and human connection for this community.

In our conversation, Magos traces his journey from childhood sketching and neighborhood graffiti to slinging prints in Mexico City and hustling as an artist, now working between Toronto, Canada, and San Jose.

The Home Is Where the Art Is program showcases framed artwork created by HomeFirst residents, with 100% of all art sales going directly back to the creators. Custom canvas work donated by Magos also helps fund future workshop cycles to sustain these creative outlets. For the 2026 exhibition, the showcase will be featured as part of the SubZERO Festival on June 5th from 5 to 8p at Open San José (38 S. Second Street, San Jose, CA 95113).

Learn more about HomeFirst on the web at homefirstscc.org and on Instagram at homefirstservices_scc

Follow Rayos Magos’ work on the web at rayos-magos.square.site and on Instagram at rayos_magos