Pocho Love - Pilsen Heart Beats to Chicago Streets

An emerging figure in Chicago's Mexican Latino Poetry Scene, Pablo Ramirez shares his poetic exploration of 21st century Chicago's ethnic and working-class heritage neighborhood of Pilsen. Nearly every page is soaked in colorful imagery forming a powerful collage of tattoo, wall murals, pop culture and Chicano graphics. Pocho Love is written in English and some Spanish, resulting in a fully charged code switched on flow done with skill and humor. Ramirez brings his debut collection with passion for cultural expression amid life's pleasures and pains in 90+ large pages.

Pablo Ramirez is both a visual artist and poet as well as an activist & curator for cultural events in the Pilsen community. His art is influenced by the likes of Carlos Cortéz Koyokuikatl as well as legendary printmaker Jose Guadalupe Posada. His poetry is inspired by the banging Boom Bap Era of Hip Hop and the Boricua/Chicano poets such as David Hernandez of Street Sounds fame.

"Pablo Ramirez has created a gorgeous, dizzying, Chicano epic in POCHO LOVE. It's a wild ride. I love it.". - Luis Alberto Urrea, author of " Good Night, Irene" and "The Devil's Highway"

"Pocho Love, is a love letter to the self. Stunning graphics, delicious, mischievous, and heartfelt poetry. A feast for the eyes and soul”. - Diana Solis, visual artist, photographer, and educator.