Cecil Crawford O'Gorman

Happy Birthday Cecil Crawford O'Gorman!!

Cecil Crawford O'Gorman was an Irish immigrant to Mexico, born in 1874 to the first consul to Mexico from Britain, John O'Gorman.  Originally Cecil was a mining engineer, but relocated to Mexico, married his cousin and fathered 4 children. One of the children, Juan O'Gorman, went on to become an architect. Cecil O'Gorman became a painter, at the outbreak of the Mexican Revolution, focusing on landscapes and portraiture. His work was exhibited many times and a solo show was dedicated to him after his death, at the Palacio de Bellas Artes.

Juan Gerson

Happy Birthday Juan Gerson!

Juan Gerson was a 16th century artist who was named after the medieval preacher John Gerson. His use of Maya blue*   in his painting demonstrates the marriage of Indian and European techniques called Arte Indocristiano. In 1562 he created perhaps his most well known work, a series of brilliantly colored ovals depicting the Apocalypse of St. John.  These created a wondrous scene above the entry to the Franciscan Church of Tecamachalco, now the state of Puebla. Sixteen events from the Apocalypse, the four evangelists, and Old Testament scenes such as Noah'd Ark and the Tower of Babel, radiate out from the Stigmata (or Franciscan medallion) located in the center. The work is an example of Indochristian art done under the guidance of Friars, as was the custom in New Spain.

The Four Horsemen is pictured here today, note the Maya blue...

Maya Blue-a bright blue pigment developed in 800 from indigo dyes made from plants and rare pigments.

Juan Patricio Morlete Ruiz

Happy Birthday Juan Patricio Morlete Ruiz!

The eighteenth century painter Juan Patricio Morlete Ruiz was born in 1713 in San Miguel de Allende. He was a member of the painting academy, acquiring him social status. He, along with his contemporary Miguel Cabrera, are credited with creating the iconic elements of casta* painting, His ideas and work endured and influenced many other artists throughout the eighteenth century. His positioning of  figures was designed to represent male family dominance. Social status due to racial mixing (casta) was represented in the hair style, clothing and background of his scenes. He also attempted to show through body language the emotions and attitudes supposedly resultant of racial mixing. Casta genre scenes continued to be painted throughout the eighteenth century as a statement of the Spanish elite on the racial intermarriage of  Hispanic America.

He also painted luxurious still life with fruit and flowers, designed to educate people in Spain on the beauty of the New World. His paintings show fine detail. clear color use and contrast indicative of Flemish and Dutch influences. Morlete's work is displayed in Mexico City at Museo Nacional de Arte, and in Los Angeles at LA County Museum of Art. 

The painting I have chosen for today is titled The Heart of Jesus.


*casta refers to racial hierarchy classification...used primarily to socially rank those of mixed racial marriage

Jose Luis Romo Martin

Happy Birthda Jose Luis Romo Martin!

Today Jose Luis Romo Martin was born in 1954, in Chilcuautla, and was of indigenous Otoni- Hnanhu heritage. He was a Surrealist graphic artist, sculptor and painter. He attended the Instituto Politecnico Nacional and became the exhibit director there. Gunther Gerszo was a mentor and influence to Jose Luis Romo Martin, in his life as well as his work.

He used a chromatic scale in his work employing blood red or grass green to interrupt the (perhaps) monotony of the sienna browns and gold. His work looks back on his childhood upbringing, focusing primarily on events and landscapes with fantasy allusions and elements.

Romo Martin taught painting to the Otomi community. He founded the Ixmiquilpan Culture House.  His work has been exhibited throughout Mexico. Romo died at age 62.

Arturo Riviera

Happy Birthday Arturo Riviera!

Born a couple of days ago...April 15, 1945, Arturo Rivera is a contemporary painter, born in Mexico City. He studied painting at San Carlos Academy. He also studied in London and Germany and lived for a time in New York City. His style is hyperrealism which is a finely defined painting or sculpture resembling a photograph...or in the case of sculpture...realistic object. At times his painting has taken on a dark, macabre quality. His work has been shown all over the world. The Museum of Contemporary Art in Mexico City, named him the Mexican Art Master of the twentieth century.

Certainly I would say his art has a definite Surrealistic influence...as represented in the painting below...

Manuel Lepe Macedo

Happy Birthday Manuel Lepe Macedo!!

Born today, April 17, 1936, Manuel Lepe Macedo is considered by some to be Puerto Vallarta's most famous artist. He painted in the Naif or "naive" pictorial style. As a youngster, he only attended school for 4 years and never received formal art training. His work consists of primarily landscapes and townscapes of Puerto Vallarta, as it became a popular tourist destination. His work is quite renowned and is in collections all over Mexico, the US and Europe.

In 1979, Luis Echevarria Alvarez (then president) named him Mexico's National Artist. He died in 1984 of a brain aneurysm. His workshop remains a museum and gallery of his work in Puerto Vallarta and April 17 is celebrated there as Manuel Lepe Day.

Pedro Ramirez Vasquez

Happy Birthday Pedro Ramirez Vasquez!

The architect Pedro Ramirez Vasquez was born in 1919, on April 16, in Mexico City. He earned his degree from National Autonomous University of Mexico which is a prestigious and the largest university of Latin America. His favored medium for construction was cement. Ramirez Vasquez was responsible for numerous innovative building designs, including a system developed for construction of rural schools that was adopted by UNICEF and used to build thousands of schools in Mexico and abroad. His style was modern but did employ some European influences as well as integration of pre-columbian culture. He sought to entice the outside viewer to enter the structure within.

In addition to architecture, Ramirez Vasquez was a member of the International Olympic Committee, helped organize Mexico's hosting of the Olympics ( 1968) and the World Cup (1970). He served during Jose Lopez Portillo's presidency as minister of public infrastructure and human settlements. He won many awards and honors. Because of his diversity he is thought to be a great contributor to the arts, sciences and humanity.