Maria Luisa Reid

Happy Birthday Maria Luisa Reid!

Maria Luisa Reid was born on November 18, 1943, in Zacatepec, Mexico. Best known for her sculpture, she studied wood carving at the Escuela Nacional de Artes Plasticas and tapestry and painting at La Esmeralda. Finally, she also studied sculpture in Paris.

She describes her work as "symbolic abstraction", working most recently with organic and erotic themes; human as well as other organisms. Reid feels sculpture should involve all five senses. She works to evoke the magical-religious purpose that she believes erotic art has historically held.

Maria Luisa Reid has had a few solo shows and participated in many collective exhibits. She.lives in Mexico City with her husband.

Pedro Preux

Happy Birthday Pedro Peux!

Born on November 17, 1932, in Paris, France, Pedro Peux came from an artistic family. His father was a painter and his mother a sculptor and tapestry weaver. He went on to become a tapestry weaver also. His family emigrated to Mexico when he was 10 years old.

Although he did not receive formal art education, Preux did study tapestry making in France under scholarship. Peux was instrumental in bringing the tapestry art form and contemporary designs to Mexico. He works with a combination of cotton and wool. He believed tapestries were woven paintings and required the same sort of compositional considerations as painted art. In addition, Preux thought tapestries were a form of portable mural work.

He conducted  tapestry workshops and taught art and design at various institutions. He continued to be a proponent for tapestry as art throughout his life. Preux' work was shown in Mexico as well as abroad.

Fidencio Castillo

Happy Birthday Fidencio Castillo!

The sculptor Fidencio Castillo was born on November 16, 1902, in Etzatlan, Jalisco. His sister Rosa Castillo (see Sept. 4 post) was also a sculptor. Fidencio attended San Carlos Academy and then La Esmeralda, and in addition to his own sculpting also became a teacher at La Esmeralda.

He was a founding member of the Salon de las Artes Plasticas Mexicana. His work has been shown in Mexico and abroad. A permanent exhibit of Castillo's work exists in Guachinanga, Jalisco, at the Museo Historico.

Sebastian

Happy Birthday Sebastian!

Sculptor, Enrique Carbajal Gonzales, commonly known as "Sebastian", was born on November 15, 1947, in Santa Rosalia de Camargo, Chihuahua. His pseudonym "Sebastian" comes from the painting by Botticelli, Saint Sebastian. He wanted to become an artist as a youngster and attended the Escuela de Nacional de Artes Plasticas, in Mexico City. 

Following his education, Sebastian began sculpting monumental sculpture in iron and cement and now has over 200 works all over the world. Henry Moore was a great influence.The sculpture below is titled "Torch of Friendship. The two figures represent differing  cultures, languages melding into one. He is also known for his unique "gates" found at the entrance of several cities in Mexico.

In addition to sculpting, Sebastian has also worked in architectural, furniture, costume and set design, painting, and jewelry. Besides his art, he has taught through lectures, workshops and conference presentations. He has won numerous awards including honorary doctorates from a few universities. He continues to live and work in Mexico City.

Felix Parra

Happy Birthday Felix Parra!

The painter Felix Parra, from Morelia, Michoacan, was born on November 17, 1845. He was educated at Academy of San Carlos. He proved to be an inspiration and influence to notable muralists such as Diego Rivera and Jose Clemente Orozco. In addition to his own painting, Parra was also an instructor of ornamental drawing at the Academy of San Carlos. As was the custom, Ramon de Lascurain was Parra's patron.

Alfredo Ramos Martinez

Happy Birthday Alfredo Ramos Martinez!

The muralist, painter and educator Alfredo Ramos Martinez was born in Monterrey, Nuevo León, on November 12, 1871.  When Ramos was 14 he won a scholarship to the prestigious Academy of Fine Arts, in Mexico City, so the family relocated to Coyoacan, just outside Mexico City. Art patron Phoebe Hearst became so impressed with his work, she made it possible for him to study further in Paris.  He was quite successful in building his reputation as an artist while in Paris.

Upon his return, Ramos became the director of the "Open Air School" and became recognized as the Father of Mexican Modern Art. In his own painting, the artist is known for his scenes depicting indigenous peoples and traditional Mexican folk life. Following the birth of his daughter with a debilitating bone disease, Ramos moved his family to California in search of treatment. His art became popular in the California area. He was adept at the technical aspects of fresco mural painting and several of his murals have been preserved. He has enjoyed recognition and tribute even after his death at age 73, with retrospectives and monetary success.