Chicano Art-Eddie Melendrez
Ontario, OR
Eddie Melendrez is a multifaceted individual. Community leader, artist, and advocate known for his dedication to community building, his artistic talent as a Chicano painter, and his commitment to social justice in Ontario, Oregon.
Eddie is currently a Community Organizer with the Oregon Food Bank, serving southeast Oregon. His work with the Food Bank focuses on addressing root causes of food insecurity and ensuring access to food resources for communities in Malheur County, while also supporting the preservation of their traditions and the education of youth in their ancestral practices.
He was previously elected to the Ontario City Council and now serves on the city's Diversity Advisory Committee, inspired by his belief that representation matters.
He's deeply committed to raising awareness for the protection of the Owyhee Canyonlands, a region with a rich history spanning over 13,000 years that holds cultural and sacred sites for the Shoshone, Northern Paiute, and Bannock Tribes.
Melendrez is a self-taught Chicano artist who uses acrylics to paint on canvases and wooden boards. His art is characterized by its boldness and decisiveness, and he enjoys capturing moments and people within his community, including community leaders and everyday individuals.
He utilizes his art to create awareness for social justice issues. Notably, he was selected as one of four artists to receive the 2024-2026 Fields Artist Fellowship, a prestigious award that will provide him with $150,000 over two years to cultivate social change in his community through his art.
Rooted in Community: Eddie grew up between California and Oregon and identifies with his indigenous Texas roots in the Southwest United States. He believes that everything good in his life has come from serving others. Melendrez has demonstrated remarkable perseverance, having been turned down for the Fields Artist Fellowship twice before finally receiving the award.
Eddie Melendrez is also an established boxer and boxing coach. Eddie started his boxing career in 2000 with his first amateur boxing match in 2001 in Fresno California. Eddie dedicated his life to training with the dreams of becoming world champion. Turning professional in 2005, Eddie experienced the hardships of the professional fight game. Suffering from a fractured jaw in the second professional boxing match in Lemoore California. Eddie took time away from the sport and move back to Oregon, where he connected with the local boxing community to train amateur fighters. With this community, Eddie found passion again and realized his dream of competing was not over and returned to the professional fight game in 2012 against Leon Spinks III, grandson of heavyweight champion, Leon Spinks, and nephew of Michael Spinks and Corey Spinks. Eddie was able to fight for a majority decision draw. Eddie fought again in December 2012 against Jeremiah Wiggins from Las Vegas, Nevada and lost a close match between two experience fighters Eddie lost by split decision. This led Eddie to go back to the drawing board and train harder and work on where it could improve. Having difficulty finding his next match it took almost 2 years to get back in the ring against a heavily favored prospect in Maurice Lee. Eddie once again, lost this match in a majority decision against the very skilled opponent. Unable to find another fight, Eddie decided to step away from boxing and focus on starting a boxing club to help underserved youth.
Eddie worked with a nonprofit in Community In Action from Ontario, Oregon to serve these youth with more than just boxing skills but life skills as well to help build a future for the betterment of the community. With this work, Eddie was named 2019 Man of the Year by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce for his work with underserved youth. Eddie was able to help countless youth with positive health activities, and life skills building opportunities that the community continues to benefit from with many of the use going on to be successful leaders in the community.
In 2025 Eddie began to work on his physical health once again, and was able to help some of his youth train for upcoming matches. From encouragement from the very fighters he trained he decided to come out of retirement as professional fighting recently started up in the Treasure Valley. Training for a possible return to the ring. Eddie was offered a main event bout against Robert Jimenez from Nampa Idaho. Eddie was able to defeat Robert Jimenez by unanimous decision in June 28, 2025. With this victory Eddie hopes to inspire others to follow their dreams despite failures and setbacks. Stating “Sometimes dreams can happen right away or sometimes they can take 25 years to accomplish.”
In essence, Eddie Melendrez is a community builder, a talented artist who utilizes his craft to promote social justice and cultural awareness, and a dedicated advocate for the protection of sacred lands. His belief in the power of representation and his passion for serving his community are evident in all of his endeavors.
Eddie is currently a Community Organizer with the Oregon Food Bank, serving southeast Oregon. His work with the Food Bank focuses on addressing root causes of food insecurity and ensuring access to food resources for communities in Malheur County, while also supporting the preservation of their traditions and the education of youth in their ancestral practices.
He was previously elected to the Ontario City Council and now serves on the city's Diversity Advisory Committee, inspired by his belief that representation matters.
He's deeply committed to raising awareness for the protection of the Owyhee Canyonlands, a region with a rich history spanning over 13,000 years that holds cultural and sacred sites for the Shoshone, Northern Paiute, and Bannock Tribes.
Melendrez is a self-taught Chicano artist who uses acrylics to paint on canvases and wooden boards. His art is characterized by its boldness and decisiveness, and he enjoys capturing moments and people within his community, including community leaders and everyday individuals.
He utilizes his art to create awareness for social justice issues. Notably, he was selected as one of four artists to receive the 2024-2026 Fields Artist Fellowship, a prestigious award that will provide him with $150,000 over two years to cultivate social change in his community through his art.
Rooted in Community: Eddie grew up between California and Oregon and identifies with his indigenous Texas roots in the Southwest United States. He believes that everything good in his life has come from serving others. Melendrez has demonstrated remarkable perseverance, having been turned down for the Fields Artist Fellowship twice before finally receiving the award.
Eddie Melendrez is also an established boxer and boxing coach. Eddie started his boxing career in 2000 with his first amateur boxing match in 2001 in Fresno California. Eddie dedicated his life to training with the dreams of becoming world champion. Turning professional in 2005, Eddie experienced the hardships of the professional fight game. Suffering from a fractured jaw in the second professional boxing match in Lemoore California. Eddie took time away from the sport and move back to Oregon, where he connected with the local boxing community to train amateur fighters. With this community, Eddie found passion again and realized his dream of competing was not over and returned to the professional fight game in 2012 against Leon Spinks III, grandson of heavyweight champion, Leon Spinks, and nephew of Michael Spinks and Corey Spinks. Eddie was able to fight for a majority decision draw. Eddie fought again in December 2012 against Jeremiah Wiggins from Las Vegas, Nevada and lost a close match between two experience fighters Eddie lost by split decision. This led Eddie to go back to the drawing board and train harder and work on where it could improve. Having difficulty finding his next match it took almost 2 years to get back in the ring against a heavily favored prospect in Maurice Lee. Eddie once again, lost this match in a majority decision against the very skilled opponent. Unable to find another fight, Eddie decided to step away from boxing and focus on starting a boxing club to help underserved youth.
Eddie worked with a nonprofit in Community In Action from Ontario, Oregon to serve these youth with more than just boxing skills but life skills as well to help build a future for the betterment of the community. With this work, Eddie was named 2019 Man of the Year by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce for his work with underserved youth. Eddie was able to help countless youth with positive health activities, and life skills building opportunities that the community continues to benefit from with many of the use going on to be successful leaders in the community.
In 2025 Eddie began to work on his physical health once again, and was able to help some of his youth train for upcoming matches. From encouragement from the very fighters he trained he decided to come out of retirement as professional fighting recently started up in the Treasure Valley. Training for a possible return to the ring. Eddie was offered a main event bout against Robert Jimenez from Nampa Idaho. Eddie was able to defeat Robert Jimenez by unanimous decision in June 28, 2025. With this victory Eddie hopes to inspire others to follow their dreams despite failures and setbacks. Stating “Sometimes dreams can happen right away or sometimes they can take 25 years to accomplish.”
In essence, Eddie Melendrez is a community builder, a talented artist who utilizes his craft to promote social justice and cultural awareness, and a dedicated advocate for the protection of sacred lands. His belief in the power of representation and his passion for serving his community are evident in all of his endeavors.
