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 “If mermaid’s existed, I would have liked to have been one myself,” confides Guadalajara sculptor Maritza Vazquez, whose life’s passion is translating fascinating sea creatures into forms that bring joy on tierra firma, their flowing meditative quality inducing a sense that all is right with the world.

“What would our lives be without the fairytales, the magic and the fantasy? To find true happiness in life one must maintain their curiosity, their ingenuity, and the capacity to be astonished like children.”

“As a young girl, I swam in the open ocean near Tecoman (south of Vallarta) every chance I could. But learning to scuba dive at 17 was a giant revelation, to suddenly see and even be able to reach out and touch fantastical fish, sponges, corals . . . things I had never even dreamed of! A kaleidoscope of colors and forms so diverse and abundant that one lifetime is not nearly enough to experience it all.”

The ocean is this artist’s medium. “When I am near it, I feel complete.” And many of us are drawn to Puerto Vallarta for that very reason.

She always signs her marine-themed pieces Maritza Vazquez Blu – her reasoning delightfully whimsical. “ When people talk to one another they go blah, blah, blah. Well, blu, blu, blu is a conversation between fish, more or less the sound air bubbles make.”

Born in 1963, Maritza began her life’s vocation early on, using simple crayons, mud, and then plaster. And today works primarily in steel and bronze, giving them patinas unique to her.

Chosen by the renowned Sotheby’s auction house to participate in a Latin American Art Collection last November, one of her corals fetched over $20,000 USD. She has exhibited at the prestigious Horno 3 Museum in Monterrey. And contributed monumental public art to Vallarta, her Sea Urchins installed on our popular Malecon.

CURRICULUM:

Guadalajara, Jalisco. 1963.

• Studied Visual arts in the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara with specialization in sculpture.
• Worked with sculptors Diego Martínez Negrete and Saúl Hernández Santoyo, both owners of artistic foundries in her hometown where she was able to learn everything involved in bronze casting and finishing techniques.
• Begun experimenting with steel in industrial workshops to gain a new perspective needed to create pieces on a larger scale.
• As one of her passions, scuba diving has been a great inspiration for her work.
• Experimentation has been an important part of her artistic path. She believes that the materials used can greatly help with their essence in order to represent the ideas and concepts she wants to convey.
• Active since 1986, she has exhibited her sculptures in various galleries, museums and public open spaces in Mexico and U.S.A.
• Many of her creations are a part of important private collections and some are on permanent display on the beach walk of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco.
• Spent two years going continuously to Monterrey (Mexico) to work on The Coral Series with Generoso Villarreal who produces metal sculptures for artists such as Tamayo, Friedeberg, Alejandro Colunga, Sebastian, Gunther Gerszo etc.
• Bachelor in Arts, University of Texas, San Antonio, TX, USA
• She currently lives part time in San Antonio, Tx where she’s serving as a board member of Blue Star Contemporary Art Museum and produces her work both in Mexico and USA.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS :

2015 “Arrecife” Galeria Contempo, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

2012- “Mas Vecinos Marinos” Galería Contempo. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

2010- “Mar de Acero” Museo del Acero Horno3. Monterrey, NL.

2009- “Corales” Exposición presentada por Generoso Villarreal. Monterrey, NL.

2007- “Grandiflorus Ephemera” MAZ Zapopan, Jalisco. 8 esculturas en el “El

Huerto” -patio escultórico del museo-

2006- “Vecinos Marinos” Puerto Vallarta, Jal. escultura urbana en el

Malecón y formatos medianos en la Presidencia de la ciudad.

2005- “Vecinos Marinos” Foro de Arte y Cultura, escultura urbana en la

explanada y formatos medianos en el interior. Guadalajara, Jal.

2004- 2do Festival de la Luna, Tapalpa, Jalisco. Escultura urbana,

explanada de la plaza central frente al templo y piezas de pequeño

formato en bronce en el Hotel de Maty.

2003- “Aletas en la Luna” Galería Ajolote Arte Contemporáneo. Guadalajara, Jalisco.

1996- “El Mundo Visto desde el Espacio” Guadalajara Country Club

COLLECTIVE EXHIBITIONS :

2016 "Al Encuentro de lo Sensible", Museo MACO, Monterrey, N.L., Mexico

2016 "Red Dot", Blue Star Contempo Art Museum, San Antonio, TX, USA

2015 "Gala 2015", Art Museum of South Texas, Corpus Christi, TX, USA

2015 "Muse", Art Gallery of the University of Texas, San Antonio, TX, USA

2015 "Al Encuentro de lo Sensible", Museo MACO, Monterrey, N.L., Mexico

2015 "SAALM Collegiate Art Show", San Antonio Art League Museum, TX, USA

2014 "Al Encuentro de lo Sensible", Museo MACO, Monterrey, N.L., Mexico

2014- “SAALM Collegiate Art Show” San Antonio Art League Museum, TX, USA

2014- “Red Dot” Centro de arte Contemporáneo Blue Star. San Antonio, TX.

2013- “Red Dot” Centro de arte Contemporáneo Blue Star. San Antonio, TX.

2012- “Red Dot” Centro de arte Contemporáneo Blue Star. San Antonio, TX.

2012- Feria de Arte Contemporáneo,Centro de Exposiciones. Houston, TX.

2010- Subasta de Arte Latinoamericano. Sotheby´s, NY. Venta de Noviembre, lote 218

2008- “Subasta Anual Grupo de las 16” Mexico, DF.

2008- Obsidianas, Festival de La Luna. Tapalpa, Jalisco.

2008- Female Sessions. Guadalajara, Jalisco.

2007- Exconvento del Carmen, Guadalajara, Jal. Invitada a participar en la

colectiva de escultores en el marco de las Fiestas de Octubre

2006- Hermandades Escultóricas (Jalisco y España), Mérida, Yucatán.

2006- Trompo Mágico, exposición – Taller: “Entre Aros y Pelotas”

2005- Las Obsidianas de Navajas. Trompo Magico, Zapopan, Jalisco.

2004- XXV aniversario del Colegio de Michoacán. Zamora, Mich.

2003- Homenaje a Ramiro Torreblanca. Guadalajara Country Club2003- 4 artistas. Galería Deva.

2003- Festival de Arte en Carmel, California. Galería Canapo y Parque Central.

2003- Exposición conjunta con el escultor Diego Martínez Negrete

en el Colegio de Michoacán. Zamora, Mich.

2002- Colectiva del día de la Mujer. Alianza Francesa de Guadalajara.
2001- 5 artistas mexicanos Anarte Gallery en San Antonio, Texas.

2001-7 artistas con el Maestro Juan Soriano Fundación Jesús Álvarez Del

Castillo. Guadalajara, Jal.

2001- Escultura trabajada “In Situ” Taller anual del Centro de Arte Moderno.

Guadalajara, Jal.

2001- X Salón de la Escultura en el Centro de Arte Moderno.

2001- Art Walk 2001. San Diego, California.

2000- “Colectiva de Mayo” con el maestro Sebastián. Presidencia

Municipal. Guadalajara, Jal.

1997-Homenaje por parte de los alumnos del maestro Ramiro Torreblanca,

Foro de Arte y Cultura. Guadalajara, Jal.

1996-Colectiva de Octubre. Guadalajara Country Club.

1995-Salon del Pequeño Formato. Centro de Arte Moderno, Guadalajara, Jal.

1995-Arte Joven, Centro de Arte Moderno. Guadalajara, Jal.

1986-Salón de Octubre. Guadalajara, Jal.

COMMISSIONS :

2015- 3 Round Corals "Ying", "Blob" and "Matrix", 115 cms diameter, Punta Mita, Nayarit, Mexico

2007- Anémona de Paso I y II 320 x 120 x 260 cms. each one, Dominican Republic

2003- 2 Conjuntos escultóricos en bronce para estanques. Los Cabos, B.C., Mexico

2003- Escultura en acero titulada “Osamenta del Porvenir” de 7 mts. de altura para casa habitación en Guadalajara, Jalisco.

2002- Móvil de 7 retratos de niños en acero policromo. 4 x 4 x 3mts, Mexico

2001-“Retratos en acero, Perfiles” serie de 12 piezas en tamaño real, Mexico