May 27-August 22, 2010
1320/1330 Fillmore Street, San Francisco

The Jazz Heritage Center (JHC), San Francisco's only permanent complex dedicated to jazz art and jazz history, is pleased to host an exhibit of the fine art work of Michael Rios. An opening reception will be held on Thursday, May 27 from 6:30-9 pm with the artist.

Michael V. Rios is a native of Oakland, California and graduate of the San Francisco Academy of Art College. Rios began as an illustrator for the San Francisco men's clothier, Roos Atkins and then became a partner in the commercial art and graphics studio, Winston, Rios & Brown.

In the seventies, Rios turned his attention towards San Francisco's Mission District and created some of the first large murals that made the Mission District famous and brought him national acclaim. One of these murals located at South Van Ness and 22nd featured musical heroes and caught the attention of Carlos Santana. Rios began working for Santana designing concert backdrops, custom clothing, guitars, and several album covers, including the Grammy Award winning "Supernatural." Michael's commissioned artwork has appeared on several other recordings, including Grammy Award Winner Poncho Sanchez' "Latin Spirits," and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Steve Winwood's "About Time." Rios has also created original artwork for the Latin Recording Academy, the Mars Family, the Andre Agassi Foundation, Sony Signatures, LP Percussion and AGInteractive.

About the Jazz Heritage Center (JHC)
The Jazz Heritage Center is the only cultural and educational complex dedicated to the history of Jazz in San Francisco and the Fillmore District. Located within the new Fillmore Heritage Center in the heart of the Fillmore District, the non-profit Jazz Heritage Center (JHC) is part jazz museum, part jazz cultural center, and part jazz art gallery. Showcasing art and historical exhibitions, concerts, films and youth programming, the JHC is working to preserve and promote jazz, an American national treasure, while celebrating its presence as an active, living art form in San Francisco. The JHC includes the Lush Life Gallery, the JHC Public Lobby, the Take Five Gift Shop, and, the JHC Screening and Presentation Room. Please visit www.jazzheritagecenter.org for more information.