Galeria Pacifico will present the much anticipated second solo show in Puerto Vallarta of the highly acclaimed Juan Ezcurdia, with cocktail receptions on January 31st and February 7th. Both of these events will be part of the weekly downtown Art Walks on Wednesdays from 6-10 PM. Ezcurdia stirred a lot of interest last March when he presented his first solo show at Galeria Pacifico, and this interest went beyond talk, as two thirds of the show sold out. Many people are waiting with interest to see what Juan will come up with this time, as he has become locally famous for his wild and varied interpretations of animals and people and how they intermingle. It seems artistic and humorous at the same time, sort of like Gary Larson meets the Masters, for lack of a better analogy.

The artist is based in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato. There he is considered to be one of the most popular and best selling painters in that town famous for being the home of many accomplished artists collected by enthusiasts from around the world. In addition to having his paintings in some of the most outstanding homes and businesses in that area, Ezcurdia has been a member/owner of the highly respected Galeria Izamal in the heart of the historical section of this 500 year old community since 1997. He is also the owner of a studio/salon in the Fabrica Aurora, an old cloth and uniform factory that now houses over 28 fine art galleries, artists’ studios, antique shops and designer workshops and showrooms.

Juan was born in Mexico City, and his first interest and professional pursuit was in psychology. Painting was something he started as an untrained hobby, and his first paintings were small florals that he eventually started selling at the request of friends. Although he initially thought they were just taking pity on him, it soon became apparent that the interest was genuine, and Juan started selling at street fairs on weekends. This exposure soon led to a job offer to illustrate children’s books and a second career was started. Along this path there was a position at a government agency illustrating school text books, and this later led to Ezcurdia receiving Mexico’s top graphic design award for these efforts. All the years of living and working in one of the largest cities in the world led to an urge to escape, and Juan has been living and painting in San Miguel since. As a result of his popularity gained through exhibitions in San Miguel as well as in Canada, Cuba and the US, the idea of a book of his paintings arose. Last year, “Juan Ezcurdia: Painter, ” was published and featured color photos 65 of his paintings from private collections around the world as well as a short fairy tale by Juan’s brother that fits the feeling of the art and Juan’s vision..
The work itself is as unique and multifaceted as the one might expect from the special mix of a psychologist/children’s books illustrator turned artist. People and animals are portrayed in a naïf manner but the ways they interact blur the lines. It’s almost as if the painter has decided that all living creatures are on the same equal footing, and talk of opposable thumbs and enlarged craniums be dammed. The artist says that, “his paintings are inspired by the simple and direct vision of children. ” Therefore, in Juan Ezcurdia’s world it’s quite normal for a woman to be riding a bicycle for two with a bull wearing a three piece suit. A musical trio might be composed of a man, a woman, and a milk cow, all apparently equally adept at singing and playing their instruments. Although the figures are simple and basic, the overall feeling is polished and painterly, for lack of a better term. Ezcurdia is self-taught, but he has a very sophisticated sense of color, subtle shading, and composition. Even though they are painted on a flat line devoid of perspective, these images have impact and power beyond the restraints of the naïf style, and seem more Chagall-like than Haitian.

The public is invited to view this important addition to Puerto Vallarta’s art scene at Galeria Pacifico’s downtown location at 174 Calle Aldama, from 10AM to 8:00 PM, Monday through Saturday, and by appointment. Juan Ezcurdia’s full exhibition will last until Feb. 13th, but an ample display of his paintings will be presented at Galeria Pacifico on a permanent basis.