Maritza Morillas

Happy Birthday Maritza Morillas!

Contemporary Mexican painter Maritza Morillas was born in 1969. She studied art at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. She is a member of the feminist artist collective Mujer Arte, A. C. Her paintings are often disturbing and dark. The primary theme of Morillas' work focuses on death and decomposition. She has shown a concern with sub-par practices in the food industry. She has also worked in some capacity with the deaths of young women on the Mexican/US boder. Morillas' main influences are Francisco Goya and Arturo Rivera.

Alicia Paz

Happy Birthday Alicia Paz!

Born in Mexico City in 1967, Alicia Paz is a Mexican artist currently based in London.  Truly a multicultural and international artist, she has also studied and lived in the US and France.

Her works combine portraiture with landscapes. Assemblage and metamorphosis are interests of hers and appear in the work. She has exhibited all over the world and has paintings in several collections. Paz has been granted residencies in London and France.

Jose Garcia Antonio

Happy Birthday Jose Garcia Antonio!

Mexican potter, Jose Garcia Antonio, was born in Ocotlan, Oaxaca, on August 10, 1947. His village is known for its handcrafts. He started sculpting small figures of horses and giraffes at the young age of seven. Encouraged by the compliments he received, Garcia made pottery his life's work. He began with incense burners on the Day of the Dead theme, but now is known for large scale works. He still lives and works in his hometown, with his family: wife and son and daughter. Although he is nearly blind with cataracts, he still continues to sculpt. He and his family have won numerous awards,

Mermaids and ample figured women are favored themes and are said to resemble his wife.

Elsa Madrigal

Happy Birthday Elsa Madrigal!

Artist Elsa Madrigal is a painter, graphic designer and also creates artist books. She was born in Mexico City in 1971 and studied art at the Academy of San Carlos, where she earned a Masters of Fine Arts degree in engraving. She has had 8 solo exhibits and been part of many collective shows all over the world.

Arturo Garcia Bustos

Happy Birthday Arturo Garcia Bustos!

This Mexican painter and printmaker was born on August 8, 1926, in Mexico City. Arturo Garcia Bustos studied art from an early age, beginning with architecture in high school. He was a student of Frida Kahlo at La Esmeralda and after 5 years there became one of the Los Fridos, a small group of four students invited to study at Frida Kahlo's home in Coyoacan. He also apprenticed in mural painting with Diego Rivera and studied lithography and engraving at Taller de Grafica Popular with Leopoldo Mendez.

Although Busto was primarily known for his lithography, he also painted several murals on his own as well as in collaboration. He taught at several institutions and won countless awards and recognitions for his art. He has said that he considers himself to be "the heir to Mexican figurative art."

He was married for over 60 years to mural painter and assistant to Diego Rivera, Rina Lazo. They lived on an historical home said to be the residence long ago of La Malinche. The lower floor houses the Galleria de la Casa Colorado, run by the couple's daughter.

Adolfo Mexiac

Happy Birthday Adolfo Mexiac!

Born August 7, 1927, in Michoacan, Adolfo Mexiac changed his name from Mejia to Mexiac at age 17. He studied at various institutions. Considered one of the primary graphic artists of Mexico, Mexiac learned engraving techniques at Escuela de Artes del Libro. He perfected innovative processes such as the "jigsaw technique" which allowed printing of multiple colors. He worked with Taller de la Grafica Popular where his work was socially and politically tied. He was greatly influenced by Leopoldo Mendez, whom he said "treated him like a son". The work supported the working class and opposed imperialism. He also painted several murals.

The engraving below is titled "El Che"

Sarabel Moller

 Happy Birthday Sarabel Moller!

This Mexican painter,  sculptor and designer, born in 1975, is from Mexico City. Her father Gustavo Moller, was also a well known painter and graphic artist.

 Sarabel first studied Byzantine Art, in France and then sculpture, in Italy. She is known for her bronze sculptures and sacred paintings employing an antique technique.  She also recently began working with digital art. Moller is the first Mexican woman artist to have a solo Digital Art exhibit.

Although it is neither a bronze, nor a digital or sacred painting, I love the direct simplicity of the "Huatecan Woman"  shown below!