GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Guillermo Meza was a Mexican painter, known for his realist portraits and figures as well his inventive landscapes. Born on September 11, 1917 in Mexico City to an indigenous Tlaxcalan (Tlaxcaltecan) father, Meza's parents had interest in history, literature, and the arts. His surrealist, expressionist paintings often draw from his heritage, such as indigenous mythology, as well as socio-political themes.
In 1933, he entered the Escuela Nocturna de Arte para Trabajadores (Art Night School for Workers), learning engraving with Francisco Díaz de León and drawing with Santos Balmori, as well as studying music. In 1937, he went to Morelia to work on murals as an assistant with Santos Balmori. After returning to Mexico City, he studied at the Escuela España-México (Spain-Mexico School), where he met Josefa Sández, and the couple later married in 1947. Meza sought an apprenticeship with Diego Rivera, but instead, Rivera recommended Meza to the well-known Galería de Arte Mexicana (Gallery of Mexican Art) in Mexico City. The Gallery gave him his first solo exhibition in 1940 and supported his work for twenty years, furthering his artistic development.
Meza served as president of the First National Congress of Visual Artists, promoting the Ministry of Culture. He was granted membership in the Salón de la Plástica Mexicana (Hall of Mexican Fine Art), and in 1953 and 1954, he won first prize in their national painting competition and continued to earn various awards during his career.
Meza also worked on various sets and costumes for numerous theatrical performances: in 1947 with the Academia Mexicana de Danza (Mexican Dance Academy), in 1948 with the La Linterna Mágica (Magic Lantern Players), in 1972 with the K.P.H. Ballet of Rossana Filomarino in Mexico and Italy, and in 1977 with the Ballet Trío of Alejandro Meza and the Royal Ballet Dens Norske Opera in Oslo, Norway. Meza died on October 2, 1997.
Adapted from
- "Meza, Guillermo." Grove Art Online. Oxford University Press, accessed February 21, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1093/benz/9780199773787.article.B00122112.
- "Guillermo Meza." Latin American Art, accessed February 21, 2018, https://www.latinamericanart.com/en/artists/guillermo-meza/biography.html.
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Meza and Mixografia~Learn more about the Mixografia workshop and its work with Guillermo Meza.
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General Description
Guillermo Meza was a Mexican painter, known for his realist portraits and figures as well his inventive landscapes. Born on September 11, 1917 in Mexico City to an indigenous Tlaxcalan (Tlaxcaltecan) father, Meza's parents had interest in history, literature, and the arts. His surrealist, expressionist paintings often draw from his heritage, such as indigenous mythology, as well as socio-political themes.
In 1933, he entered the Escuela Nocturna de Arte para Trabajadores (Art Night School for Workers), learning engraving with Francisco Díaz de León and drawing with Santos Balmori, as well as studying music. In 1937, he went to Morelia to work on murals as an assistant with Santos Balmori. After returning to Mexico City, he studied at the Escuela España-México (Spain-Mexico School), where he met Josefa Sández, and the couple later married in 1947. Meza sought an apprenticeship with Diego Rivera, but instead, Rivera recommended Meza to the well-known Galería de Arte Mexicana (Gallery of Mexican Art) in Mexico City. The Gallery gave him his first solo exhibition in 1940 and supported his work for twenty years, furthering his artistic development.
Meza served as president of the First National Congress of Visual Artists, promoting the Ministry of Culture. He was granted membership in the Salón de la Plástica Mexicana (Hall of Mexican Fine Art), and in 1953 and 1954, he won first prize in their national painting competition and continued to earn various awards during his career.
Meza also worked on various sets and costumes for numerous theatrical performances: in 1947 with the Academia Mexicana de Danza (Mexican Dance Academy), in 1948 with the La Linterna Mágica (Magic Lantern Players), in 1972 with the K.P.H. Ballet of Rossana Filomarino in Mexico and Italy, and in 1977 with the Ballet Trío of Alejandro Meza and the Royal Ballet Dens Norske Opera in Oslo, Norway. Meza died on October 2, 1997.
Adapted from
- "Meza, Guillermo." Grove Art Online. Oxford University Press, accessed February 21, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1093/benz/9780199773787.article.B00122112.
- "Guillermo Meza." Latin American Art, accessed February 21, 2018, https://www.latinamericanart.com/en/artists/guillermo-meza/biography.html.
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artists_and_designers-0210.xml.nores