An expatriate of corporate America, Frederick Aragon is a painter, graphic designer, illustrator, animator, photographer, musician, composer, songwriter, singer, filmmaker, and actor of Navajo, Hispanic, and Anglo heritage. He has a background in graphic design, illustration, and animation. For six years he worked for the largest educational software publisher in the U.S. Before that, he spent 15 years on the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, retiring as a conductor in 1989. During both careers, he maintained time for his fine art, creating striking paintings on canvas that have been exhibited and collected internationally.
A popular local personality in his hometown of Taos, New Mexico, Aragon was awarded the 2008 State of New Mexico Governor's Cup/National Geographic All Roads Film Project grant for an animated film based on one of his original songs, Mystery's Night. In 2009, he received the State of New Mexico New Visions Award for another film based on another of his songs, Dark Is My Light. Aragon also co-starred in the film Taos: The Movie and starred in the film Descansos. As a musician, songwriter, and storyteller, he sees the world as ripe for interpretation--and believes that nowhere on Earth is more beautiful than the American Southwest. Its cultures, landscape, and history provide the inspiration for all his work.
He has received a commendation from the State of New Mexico for his contributions to representing the state in a tour of major cities of Texas; a "You Make a Difference" certificate from the Boys and Girls Club of Northern New Mexico; and an Honorary Ambassadorship from the Taos County Chamber of Commerce.
He served on the boards of the Taos Institute of Art and the Taos Business Alliance.
