The remarkable dreams, aspirations and desires of the renowned Mexican painter Nicolás Cuéllar (1927-2010) are set to awe audiences once more with the exhibition titled Magical Mexico and surrealism. This captivating exhibition will be accessible to the public until tomorrow at the prestigious Ángela Peralta Theater, located in the historic city of San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato. The exhibition will showcase an impressive collection of 22 masterpieces by the distinguished Guanajuato author.
In an exclusive interview with the esteemed publication The Conference, the curator of the exhibition, Carlos Cuéllar, disclosed that the exhibition was organized at the behest of the city’s government. Their aim was to afford the public another opportunity to witness the artistic brilliance of one of the greatest cultural exponents of San Miguel de Allende
.
“Nicolás Cuéllar was indeed one of the most versatile surrealist painters of his time. From a young age, he found a unique outlet in painting through which he vividly depicted the magical essence of Mexico, showcasing enduring traditions that hold a special charm and form an integral part of our national identity.
We have on display works of various formats. Most of them are oil paintings, watercolor prints and we even have a sculpture
, revealed Carlos Cuéllar.
Born in San Miguel de Allende, Jesús Nicolás Cuéllar Hernández was blessed with a vivid imagination. At the tender age of seven, he embarked on his artistic journey by painting portraits of religious works. It was then that a group of nuns who taught him at his school unearthed his innate talent for oil painting.
His parents, Nicolás Cuéllar, an employee at a fabric factory, and his mother, Eleuteria Hernández Pérez, a homemaker, decided to nurture his artistic passion. In 1954, he was admitted into the esteemed San Carlos Academy.
After completing a few years of study, Nicolás Cuéllar returned to his hometown San Miguel de Allende and decided to further his studies at the Allende Institute. It was here that he crossed paths with James Pinto and Jack Baldwin, two influential painters who introduced him to muralism. This style of painting left a significant imprint on his career. He drew inspiration from the works of Diego Rivera and was a pupil of Rufino Tamayo.
“He saw magic in the mundane. He lived by the maxim that ‘he was not surrealist, but his world was surrealist.’ As he progressed in his career, during one of his exhibitions held in San Miguel de Allende, the great Diego Rivera came and lauded his art, which motivated him to delve deeper into various artistic currents,” shared Carlos Cuéllar.
He later received a coveted scholarship to study at the renowned Brooklyn Museum Art School in New York. Here, he had the opportunity to closely study the works of art legends like Rembrandt, De Chirico, Hieronymus Bosch, Brugel, Cézanne, Gauguin, Lautrec, Modigliani, Alexander Laktionov and Pablo Picasso, among others.
Subsequently, he delved into the surrealist movement, experimenting with colors and forms, always drawing inspiration from the everyday life of the city’s inhabitants. His artworks Rumors, Children with starsand The Malquerida are testimonials of that experience.
“His unique way of working was known as ‘the creative smoke,’. He was spontaneous in his approach: he carried a little notebook, doodled and captured what he saw in the pulquerías, the saleswomen, the muleteers and residents of San Miguel de Allende,” narrates Carlos Cuéllar.
I strongly believe that the younger generations are gradually rediscovering Nicolás Cuéllar. When they stand in front of his works, they observe them with meticulous attention. However, there is still more artistic impulse required in San Miguel.
In his paintings, Nicolás Cuéllar was already criticizing the large number of migrants who were compelled to leave their towns, exposing the hardships they endured at that time.
In addition to the exhibition, on February 17, the graphic novel Magical stories: Nicolás Cuéllar was released, which vividly portrays the painter’s life and highlights his most iconic creations. That same day, after the narrative Nicolás Street, apparition or legend
was shared, a video was played to divulge more intricate details about the celebrated Mexican artist.
