The Art Scene of Loja Ecuador

"Por la boca muere el pez" (by the mouth dies the fish) ARTIST - Luis Ángel Conza Chuquimarca, aka Conza Luis KtanaAc Bachelor of Fine Arts from Universidad Nacional de Loja (UNL). Currently owner/manager of the workshop and gallery KSARTE. Lives in Cariamanga, Loja province. According to Dennys Villalta: “Many paintings show characters, animals and even fruits without their protective layer. Conza makes reference to the interior of things, to our equality as individuals, we do not all have the same color of skin, eyes or hair, but we all have an aorta or a sternocleidomastoid muscle. He tears our skin to show our interior without mysticism, only as humans, he removes our masks and arrogates us to the world, he launches us without our armor, without ideologies, without prejudice.” facebook.com/ktla.ac

“Espiral cósmica” (Cosmic spiral) ARTIST - Velp Velp (Victor Lima) Studied Art at Universidad Nacional de Loja (UNL). General Manager/Owner of CartoneCrafts  (artistic creations, crafts, design, handicrafts and more in cardboard). Recent exhibitions include "Transformando Ideas" (Transforming Ideas) in the Sala Angel Ruben Garrido  2018. Artist's statement: “The idea is not to live forever, the idea is to create something that does.” “Degeneracion Urbana” (Urban degeneration) Sketch for engraving.  facebook.com/victor.lima facebook.com/VelpVelp instagram.com/velp_velp velpvelp.tumblr.com

“Llena eres de gracia y el señor nunca este contigo”  (Full of grace and the Lord never is with you), acrylic on fabric ARTIST - Dave Saritama (Acid Dave) Studied Art and Design at Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL). In addition to creating works of art, Dave also occasionally offers drawing classes at the  Madriguera Café - Art Shop . Recent exhibitions include "Emerging Artists" 2017, "Pasión Plástica de Dave Saritama" (Plastic Passion of Dave Saritama) at La Casa de Manuel 2017. "Paisajes" (Landscapes) facebook.com/acideiv instagram.com/aciddeiv aciddeiv.tumblr.com

 ARTIST - Claudia Paola Cartuche Flores (Claw CF)  (1984 - ) Studied at, and now a teacher for, the Department of Architecture and Arts of Private Technical University of Loja (UTPL). Trained in various artistic media, now mostly expressing her vision and creating her images using photography. "Classic" (photograph) facebook.com/claw.cf instagram.com/clawcf 500px.com/clawcf

"Fertility 2" ARTIST - Pausa Visual (Paulina Salinas)   (1972 - ) Studied at Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL), Master's degree in Art with a mention in Sculpture from National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Currently President of the Asociación de Artistas Plásticos y Visuales de Loja (Association of Visual Artists of Loja), and Teacher for a Career of Visual Arts at the Universidad Nacional de Loja (UNL). Recent exhibitions include Arte Mujer 2018, and II International Salon of Visual Arts in Trujillo, Peru 2018. Artist's statement: "When I played with clay as a child and made small vessels and figures as part of my fun, I still did not think about the possibility of making it the raw material of my sculptures. Little by little I was maturing the idea of ​​working with this material that holds so much meaning, combining between my hands the four elements that are now part of my work." facebook.com/pau.salinas pausavi...

"Tree" (2004) embossing and painting by hand ARTIST - Mónica Sarmiento Castillo   (1967 - ) Studied Fine Arts at Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL). Born and educated in Loja, currently living in Spain. Artist's philosophy (from her blog): In her works, Monica manages pictorial concepts with traditional techniques, following the concepts of pre-Columbian art. Her works delve into the investigation of nature, exploring different materials in painting, sculpture, collage, drawing, glass and others. Chromatic and constructivist structuring are characteristic of her work...The artist creates visual effects from the integration of form, volume and space. Different planes recreate a constructivist structural language in which the experience of the subject and its conceptual philosophy are united, originating works that the artist calls 'chromatic textures'." Exhibitions include multiple cities and countries around the world, including Beirut, ...

ARTIST - Néstor Miguel Ayala Peñafiel   (1965- ) Studied at the Central University of Ecuador. Now a teacher of Visual Arts and Design & Decoration for the National University of Loja (UNL). He has won numerous awards for his work over the years. Recent exhibitions include “Vaivén de circunstancias torpes” (Swaying of circumstances) 2016, "ENSAYOS" 2018, "Arte in Loja Edición Noviembre 2018." "fachates" Email: nestoraya@hotmail.com (no Facebook page) manpart.artelista.com

ARTIST - Wilson Guaman Currently a teacher at Ministerio Educación Ecuador, the artist was born in Loja and obtained the title of Bachelor of Visual Arts -Painting, at the National University of Loja (UNL). He has made solo and group exhibitions in Loja, Ambato and Peru; and collaborated in the execution of murals, and won several prizes. Recent exhibitions include "Sencillo" (Simple) in Quito, and in "Arte in Loja Edition November 2018" “Abandonada por sus hijos” ("Abandoned by their children") facebook.com/Wilson.Guaman

“En mi memoria” (In my memory) 2009 ARTIST - Tania Sáez Pezo Art teacher in the High School Beatriz Cueva de Ayora. Former teacher of Art and Design at Universidad Tecnica Particular de Loja (UTPL).  Studied Master of Pedagogy at UTPL. Studied visual arts, painting and design at UTPL. Daughter of artist Gerardo Sáez . Recent exhibitions include Loja del Alma Mia, Arte Mujer 2018, XV Binacional de Artes Plasticas y Visuales Ecuador - Peru 2017, and the Collective Exposition “Sinfonia Visual” in the Museum of Music (2017). As of 2016, her work had progressed through three stylistic stages: surrealism, cubism and expressionism. "I intend to leave an indelible imprint of my being a woman and the chronicle of my surroundings." “Autorretrato con mis hijos” (Self-portrait with my children) 2001 facebook.com/taniasaezpezo Photo by Arte del Sur

“Hojarasca” "Litter" (2014) ARTIST - Alicia Margarita González Tenezaca Alicia takes her inspiration from the flora and trees of Nature, rendering their essence in atmospheric impressions rather than stark reality. She works in both oils and acrylics to achieve different ends. "Every one of my paintings is like a son created from my hands, from a very young age I have had an intimate contact with nature and today it is reflected in my works." “El llanto de los bosques” "The Weeping of the Woods" (2005) facebook.com/alicia.gonzalez Photo by Arte del Sur

"Rostros del futuro" (1987) ARTIST - Angel Braulio Aguilar Masaco  Studied artistic drawing and painting at Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL). Gallery owner of Galeria De Arte "Aguilar."  He considers his art to have developed from 1980 through six stages, the current stage being called "Abstract Eclectic." His work has been exhibited throughout Ecuador, plus Brazil, Bolivia, Chile and Spain. His works are held in numerous private and public collections around the world. Angel has authored three books: "Las artes plasticas del siglo XX en Loja" (The visual arts of the twentieth century in Loja) "Aplicacion del Diseño Estructural Tridimensional en la Escultura Contemporánea" (Application of three-dimensional structural design in contemporary sculpture) "Trotamundos" (Globetrotters) Phone:  +593 098 583-7407 email:   aguilarte58@latinmail.com facebook.com/Aguilarte instagram.com/aguilarte ...

ARTIST - Boris Salinas Tom á s Ochoa   (1971 - ) Boris eschews the internet in favor of one-on-one interactions with individuals and the public. A prolific sculptor, he loves to share his studio and knowledge with numerous students, mentoring their innate abilities into refinement. Working from his compound housing hand-built, uniquely decorated studios and residences for his extended family, Boris has pursued his passion since leaving the arts program at UTPL, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja.  See the post about " Artist Designed Houses " for more on the Salinas compound. Boris is a painter, but mainly does figurative sculpture in fine terra-cotta clay available from the surrounding hills.  The 46-year-old artist's social realism, known for very fine work, especially in the fabric folds and other clothing items, packs an impossible amount of detail into his typical 15 inch piece.  He says his influences are as diverse as Michelangelo, Velázquez, and ...