Manuel Hernandez builds upon a tradition that dates back to the ancient frescos found in the temples of Teotihuacan, Mexico. His large-scale, yet portable, paintings reflect the constant migration his family has gone through, as well as the displacement of Indigenous people forced by colonization. The canvases are shaped in forms that reflect shapes found in nature, showing a resemblance to animal hide paintings. Hernandez portrays Indigenous people surrounded by imagery inspired by art before colonialism. As part of the process, a conversation is had between the artist and the subject. The works explore beliefs, gender, family history, racism, environmentalism, and other current topics that arise, which are shown through the paintings' visual language. Sometimes through text or sometimes through symbolism

In other murals, he revisits history and adds an indigenous perspective to them. One such topic is the history of trade between North and South American Indigenous tribes. Combining Western history with Indigenous stories and myths, he revises history and challenges established narratives.

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