Mexico is a land full of creative brilliance. Iconic artists like Frida Kahlo, Jose Clemente Orozco, and Diego Rivera all called it home. Now Leticia López Sánchez, founder of Alegría Latin Art brings her vision for sharing her country’s rich artistic tradition, passion and drama with the rest of the world…

Think of Mexico and its vibrant colours, diverse landscapes, and an ancient cultural heritage so easily spring to mind. It has inspired generations of renowned artists and Leticia wants to put some of her nation’s latest flamboyant creators onto the radar of art appreciators in England.

“For me, it is about bridging cultures and building connections through the universal language of art. I was born in Mexico and lived there until I came to the UK in 2006. If I cannot be in Mexico, I want to bring a piece of Mexico here”.

Leticia wants to transport you to a world of paradoxical beauty, where the flamboyant and the fatalistic coexist perfectly.  “It is a journey of discovery, a window into the soul of a nation that has captured the imagination of artists and art lovers worldwide.”

Leticia’s passion for art was ignited at a young age; her father was very active in the art world during the 1980s.  She was surrounded by canvases and oils, the love of which has stayed with her ever since.

Art has the power to transcend borders and bring people together. Alegría Latin Art is creating a platform for cultural exchange and mutual understanding by promoting talented artists from Mexico and Latin America. It celebrates diversity and the power of art to inspire.

Doris Arellano, based in Oaxaca, depicts the traditional life in Oaxaca and the Mexican South more broadly, with vibrant colours and flowing lines. As she puts it herself, she was not given great power with words but was given eyes that could see the magic of colour and hands to paint what her eyes could see. She uses oils both for their colour and their textural depth, creating truly unique pieces. “I am inspired by what surrounds me; it is as if the colour came from some point in my soul, a part of my essence and the only thing I do is capture it in the canvas in front of me.”

Paula R Rodriguez, based in London, aims to capture the beauty and magic of Mexico and Latin America while exploring identity issues. She is fascinated by how spaces acquire an identity of their own through the passage of time and through the meaning given to them by the people who inhabit and animate them. She uses shape, colour, and form to evoke the magic realism of her cultural background and the richness of its native traditions. “I convey the

poetic realism of my work through striking colour combinations and hard-edge abstractions, and my images are populated by lone figures transporting us to an imaginary world of understated beauty”

Sonia Amelia, based in Monterrey, is a passionate artist who is always searching for artistic and creative expression. She has a contemporary focus, merging classical Mexican colour palettes and techniques with subjects influenced by Europe and America. When Sonia paints, the canvas becomes a medium for expressing her innermost emotions and capturing the essence of her experiences. She works primarily in oils and loves to create striking “wow factor” large-format pieces. “I seek to capture the energy and emotions that I have experienced in life and transform them into vibrant and compelling works of art.”

The art will be on display at The Lightbox in Woking, 10 – 22 September 2024 and then The Mexican Embassy later in 2024

Alegría Latin Art: www.alegrialatinart.co.uk and Instagram: @alegrialatinart

Email: leticia.lopez@alegrialatinart.co.uk

 

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This article also appears in the summer edition of Premier Magazine.