The Art Scene of Loja Ecuador

"Fragment of my skin" ARTIST - Andrea Estefanía Luna Correa   (1992 - ) Studied Visual Arts and Design at Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL). Her thesis is titled "Fragments. Sensation and experience of a depressive body." Recent exhibitions include the collective art show for the launch of "Se Acabó La Tinta #5" at Howard Johnson's (2018), "Wakán Espiritu/Rara Tangara" 2018, “Expo Mascaras” at Museo del Ministerio de Cultura 2017, “Simbiosis” in La Casa de Manuel 2016. Mask sculpture facebook.com/andrea.luna

"Mano Grande" (Big Hands), 1981 ARTIST - Eduardo Kingman Riofrío  (1913 - 1997) Born in Loja, Eduardo is known as "the painter of hands" and was regarded as one of the masters of twentieth century expressionism.   He studied at the School of Fine Arts in Quito, with stops in Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, and in the United States at the San Francisco Art Institute.  Eventually he received a chair at the same institute, was the director of Quito's Colonial Art Museum, and a owned private gallery also in Quito.  While living in Quito, he became the protege of other famous Lojanos like writers Bejamin Carrion and Pablo Palacio.  His lithographs, woodcuts, and paintings concentrated on the social realities of Ecuador's indigenous people.  The artisit's deeply humanistic style captured the range of emotions from anguish, anger, and impotence in the face of injustice, to the quieter feelings of tenderness and devotion.  As well as painting, Eduardo ...

Christ the Redeemer ARTIST - Diego Vinicio Espinosa Aguirre   (1970 - ) Studied Fine Art at Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL). We'll call Diego an "exterior artist" since most all of his works are located outdoors. He creates monuments, murals, busts and stained glass windows using a variety of materials that include copper, bronze, aluminum, fiberglass, ferro cement, cast cement and, of course, glass.  Originally a painter and muralist, he began sculpting in earnest in 1995.  His accessible style has garnered a plethora of public and private commissions in Loja and throughout the country.  It is impossible to tour Ecuador without seeing his work. Quite a few of the artist's monuments are three-dimensional symbols for the cities or towns where they are installed, such as an ear of corn, birds endemic to the area, a giant ant, a pack mule, etc. His busts and statues of famous people include musicians, politicians, clergy, physicians, and even S...

"Yakumama" (Mother), acrylic on canvas ARTIST - Favio Caraguay From Loja province, now living in Quito. Studied Interior Design and Plastic Arts at Loja Unida. Studied Anthropology and Art at the University of Cuenca and achieved a Master of Visual Arts at the Cuenca University. Currently a profesor at Universidad San Francisco of Quito, and a shamanic artist at Caraguay . Artist's statement: "My artistic work has been characterized at all times by using the languages ​​of drawing, painting and photography. The development of the work arises from having direct contact with the transformations of radical cycles of nature in the dry forest of Mangahúrco and from the approach with the pre-Columbian work of the original peoples of the Paltas." “Homenaje al maestro Manuel Serrano” (Tribute to master Manuel Serrano) facebook.com/CARAGUAYfavio facebook.com/Caraguay instagram.com/caraguayfavio

"Synthesis II" ARTIST - Carlos Valarezo   (1991 - ) Studied at Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL). Currently designer, architect and co-manager (with his wife Nelva Reinozo) for Ensamble , and for Valarezo & Reinozo. "Hypnotic Nausea" Wooden lamps (from recycled pallet scraps) facebook.com/clvalarezo instagram.com/carlosvalarezoart instagram.com/valarezo_reinozo valarezoreinozo.blogspot.com carlosvalarezoart.blogspot.com

"Desnudos!" (Nudes!) oil on canvas ARTIST - Briggette Quezada  (1995 - ) Studied at Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL). Recent exhibition: "Imágenes Sonoras" (Sound Images) in the Casona Cultural , 2018. pastel facebook.com/briggette.quezada instagram.com/briggettequezad

"The sushi eater" ARTIST - Kelly Gualsaqui (kilogramo, or kg) Studied at the National University of Loja (UNL), and Instituto Superior Tecnológico “Daniel Alvarez Burneo” (ISTDAB). Prolific young Lojano artist who brings her female perspective to her images of young women and animals in interesting ways. Works in murals, graphic arts, illustration, body painting, and more. Be sure to check out the link to her Instagram page for examples of her work. Recent exhibitions include "Indómita - Festival De Arte Urbano" in Zamora (2018). facebook.com/kelly.gualsaqui instagram.com/kg_kilogramo

ARTIST - Javier Alexander Montaño Escobar Studied Art and Design at Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL). Artist frequently signs his work as "Mugre XI - I" or just simply "XI - I." Besides his murals, painting and illustration work, Javier is also a musician. facebook.com/javier.montano behance.net/jamontescoac facebook.com/Mugre-XI-I

ARTIST - Vladimir Rodriguez Recent exhibitions: "Wabi Sabi" (2017) in the Sala Eduardo Kingman, “The Beauty of Imperfection" at City Gate (2018). Also contributed to the Wabi-Sabi Collective mural for the 18 November School. facebook.com/vladimir.rodriguez

ARTIST - Andrés Castro (Mösue) Studied Art and Design at Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL). Andrés helped organize TEDx-UTPL in 2017. Recent exhibitions: "Wabi Sabi" (2017) in the Sala Eduardo Kingman , and “Se acabó la tinta” (the ink is over) on the campus of UTPL in 2018. Artist's statement: "I've always had this insatiable desire to draw, to paint, that's why I never stop, and that's the beauty of it because every time I try to get better.” facebook.com/andres.castro behance.net/Mosue deviantart.com/m0sue

"Verano" (Summer) digital illustration ARTIST - Mafer (María) Songor Jaramillo Studied Art and Design at Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL). Currently works at UTPL and at Spiral Arte y Diseño. Recent exhibition: "Wabi Sabi" (2017) in the Sala Eduardo Kingman . facebook.com/mafer.songorjaramillo facebook.com/Spiral-Arte-y-Diseno

ARTIST - Luis Miguel Cisneros Galindo   (1987 - ) Studied at Universidad Tecnica Particular de Loja (UTPL) and the Instituto Tecnológico Superior Sudamericano - Loja. Owner of the  Madriguera Café - Art Shop . Luis has an excellent command of the graphic arts, especially evident in the way he uses repetitive images to create a singular, larger image. Much of his prolific work is also geared toward smaller objects of art to be more affordable and have a wider audience dissemination - such as stickers, buttons, cards, t-shirts, stuffed dolls, and even jewelry. This is not to slight his expansive works because he has contributed many fine murals to the Loja scene. In addition to the more common art techniques of Lojano artists, Luis also produces works using woodcuts and silkscreens. Luis' thesis for UTPL, "Creating a Fanzine" ( Creación de un Fanzine ), is available online in Spanish. facebook.com/luis.m.galindo behance.net/lmcisnerosgalindo flickr.co...

"Cotopaxi" by H. David Moscoso E., 2009 ARTIST - H. David Moscoso Estupiñan  (honorable mention) Even though this website is focused on the art scene in Loja, some Ecuadorian artists are just TOO good to not name. David Moscoso of Quito is definitely in that category. David Moscoso: "The landscape is the genesis that defines our identity" Thomas Lee Jones (Editor Newsweek Magazine / Director SP Forbes Magazine) is quoted as saying, "His work, reminiscent of Frederic Edwin Church and Martin Johnson Heade, is truly impressive. In a world where so much of current art seems either incomprehensible or just plain ugly, discovering the paintings of David Moscoso Estupiñan is like arriving at an exotic and tranquil corner of paradise." Ambato Cathedral ceiling mural Email:   hdavidmoscoso@gmail.com ;  hdavidmoscoso@yahoo.com facebook.com/hdavidmoscoso facebook.com/DMoscosoE shopvida.com/collections/david-moscoso

Portion of Simon Bolivar mural by fafo, location: opposite Loja City Gate ARTIST - Fabián Augustín Figueroa Ordóñez, aka fafo   (1954-2008) Director of the School of Arts at the Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL) for 16 years, he inspired many of today's current Lojano artists. He produced works on canvas, sculpture, ceramics, mosaics and murals - being perhaps best known for his murals. A quick way to see several examples of his muralism is by touring the campus of UTPL where the exteriors of numerous buildings are adorned by his work.  A focal point of the campus is his monumental cross. According to fellow Lojano artist and contemporary, Angel Aguilar, Fabián unconsciously quoted and then transcended many of the important genres of the twentieth century with the aim of being expressively free.  Hints of synthetism, surrealism, cubism, abstraction, and the hyperreal flow through the artist's unique and recognizable vision.  Onli...

“Esquirlas para un Talisman” (Shrapnel for a talisman) 2017 ARTIST - Edwin Bermeo (1981 - ) Studied art at National University of Loja (UNL). Edwin's surrealist works are accomplished using a variety of techniques, including charcoal, ink, acrylics, oil, mixed media and engraving. One can see some influence by Picasso and Salvador Dali, but Edwin's style is uniquely his own. Edwin has been in numerous exhibitions and also in leadership roles relating to the visual arts in Loja, including being director of the "Plastic Arts" section of the House of Culture Núcleo de Loja from 2014-2016. Nowadays one will usually find Edwin working at the “El Grito” Gallery and Workshop. “DÉBORA SILVER” (Deborah Silver) 2016 facebook.com/edwin.bermeo arteedwinbermeo.wordpress.com

"Trascendencia" (Transcendence) 2015 ARTIST - Oscar Benítez Studied at Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL). Recent exhibition: “To Touch the Sun” in Sala Ángel Rubén Garrido (2018). Oscar achieves extremely realistic portraits whether working in paint or graphite or colored pencils, large scale or small. "Realism for me is fundamental because I show people's experiences."  mural at skatepark facebook.com/profile dibujando.net/olbenitez instagram.com/olbenitez Photo by Arte del Sur