Simón Silva was born in Mexicali, Mexico. He is the seventh of eleven children and grew up in the Imperial Valley near the Frontera. His family survived by working in the hot sun picking fruits and vegetables as migrant farm workers. Silva himself helped his family by also working in the fields from the early age of six until the age of twenty three. Simón describes his family as not having extra money for entertainment, which led him to begin drawing.
Wanting a better life for himself away from the harsh conditions of working in the fields, Simon decided to go to college and got his Associate Arts degree from Imperial Valley College. He then followed that with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Illustration from the distinguished Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California.
Since then, Simón Silva has made a career out of painting, public speaking, and writing. His renowned artwork has appeared in several distinguished venues around the world. As a public speaker he has traveled extensively throughout the country doing his lecture/workshop called, “Creating Sustainable Equity Through the Arts” to professionals, educators, students, and parents.
