Artists of San Miguel: Juan Ezcurdia and the magic of naïve art

By Francisco Peyret

Born in Mexico City in 1962, Juan Ezcurdia is a self-taught artist. He received Mexico’s National Illustration Award from the National Fund for Culture and the Arts in 1997, and has collaborated with various publishers, including Barco de Vapor, Trillas, Santillana, Alteridades (UAM), Cidcli, Fernández Editores, and SEP. His work is in private collections in cities such as San Francisco, Houston, Toronto, Barcelona, Chicago, Bilbao, Buenos Aires, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Bogotá, New York, Madrid, and Atotonilco.

Almost 30 years ago Ezcurdia moved to San Miguel de Allende, and today he is one of its best-recognized plastic artists. He is a multifaceted painter with a very colorful, varied, and personal style. Self-taught, his work began as a bit of a hobby in small formats, and has grown to larger formats. “BU-Magazine” describes him as an artist totally immersed in his work: “The work itself is as unique and multifaceted as one could hope for from the special combination of an artist-turned-psychologist and children’s book illustrator. He portrays people and animals in a naive way. He has a very sophisticated sense of color, subtle shadows, and composition.”.

This is what other reviewers think of his work.

“Don’t miss visiting the studio of acclaimed Mexican artist Juan Ezcurdia—who is self-taught—where you’ll see him working when he’s in town.” Richard Alleman, “VOGUE”

“Ezcurdia’s work is joyful, like almost all the art in San Miguel; from the most expensive painting to the sculptures carved in wood, terracotta and papier-mâché that crowd the Ignacio Ramírez market.” Marline King Porter, “LA NEWS”

You can find the artist’s work at Estudio Ezcurdia in the Fábrica la Aurora, Bodega C-9. Alternatively, visit his website http://www.ezcurdia.com