An exhibition in which you can see regarding 50 paintings from the Guatemalan Rios family will be available in the Miraflores MuseumZone 11 of the capital, February 29 to March 10. It has an artistic journey, honoring the career of the members belonging to five different generations of the family nucleus.
The exhibition, titled The artistic legacy of the Rios family, finally arrives in 2024, following several impediments caused both by the covid-19 pandemic in 2020, and by the blockades of October 2023, which arose due to demonstrations once morest the Public Ministry and its attorney general.
This exhibition is a celebration throughout more than 200 years of artistic work. Manuel E. Rios, who began painting in the 19th century, promoted the teaching of art in his family. From that account and towards the present, even his great-great-granddaughters have learned to paint.
Over five generations, the Rios family has left its mark on Guatemalan art and has transmitted its knowledge and works through gallery managementwith which they are part of the cultural and artistic legacy of the country.
“In Rios Gallery we are instructing with love. It is an art center where we treat clients like friends. We have a lot of competition, but a guaranteed niche, which comes from generations,” he mentions. Roberto Riosmember of the third generation of artists in the family.
According to the painter and also architect, in the exhibition attendees will be able to see works by all the artists of the Rios family, from his grandfather to the granddaughters of the interviewee. “My greatest wish is that the next generations continue the family artistic legacy”he adds.
The exhibition, which can be visited from Monday to Friday free of charge on the second level of the Miraflores Museum, on an intergenerational journey made by five of the members of the Rios family.
Between the artists included Those mentioned below stand out.
Manuel E. Rios (1887 – 1978)
He was born in 1887 in San Juan Ostuncalco, Quetzaltenango. He was passionate regarding photography and painting. In his works, mural painting, hunting and the daily life of the town stood out.
Your technique stood out because of the oil painting and one of the most appreciated by the family is Portrait of my father. Manuel began the artistic legacy of the Rios family by instilling in his son a love of the visual arts.
Miguel Angel Rios (1914 – 1991)
He was a man who “I knew how to do everything” mentions his son Roberto. During his childhood and part of his youth he lived in San Juan Ostuncalco for agriculture. Thanks to his father he learned regarding photography and painting. He settled in Guatemala City at approximately the age of 18 where He began working in a company that was dedicated to developing photographic rolls.
There he continued his learning in photography and visual arts. In 1940 he and a partner created the establishment Photo Art where photographs were developed and illuminated. In this space He realized that people did not know the country and so he began to sell his photographic work.
However, his desire to paint was always present and when he had the opportunity he began to sell paintings. Miguel Angel’s paintings were influenced by his photographic style and highlighted Guatemalan landscapes and everyday life.
Over time, Photo Art was changing its line of business and In 1945 the Rios Gallery where, in addition to photographic work, They began to teach painting classes, sold materials for painters and made picture frames.
The business became family-owned and Miguel Angel instilled painting in his three children. He gave them menial jobs so they might earn their own money.
His specialty in painting was landscaping since he enjoyed painting outdoors. This technique allowed him to capture natural light and the atmospheric conditions of the moment.
His legacy stood out in national competitions, obtaining the highest award at the First Watercolor Salon in 1980 and at the Third Watercolor Salon in 1982.
Roberto Rios
He was born in 1951 in Guatemala City. Influenced by his father, he began painting from the age of 6. Graduated from the Rafael Landívar University as an architect, he decided to continue down the path of teaching. Continuing with his father’s legacy, Roberto was a drawing and painting teacher in Rios Gallery for more than 45 years and served as a university professor. “Painting is a joy, but teaching satisfies me even more”comments the artist.
Throughout his life, Roberto has won several awards which include first place in the Fourth National Watercolor Salon in 1983, the Golden Glyph at the V Paiz Art Biennial in 1986 and the recognition of the Municipality of Guatemala together with the Sonia Rincón Institute for their contribution to the plastic arts internationally. in 2000.
Like his father, Roberto instilled his passion for art in his children. Roberto Rios (son), the oldest of the three brothers, is the owner of the art supplies stores. Rivers ArtRaquel is founder and director of the dance academy Rios Dance and Margarita currently directs the drawing and painting academy of the Rios Gallery.
Margarita Rios
From a very young age, the youngest daughter of Roberto Rios’ marriage showed interest in painting and art. At only two years old she enjoyed using his father’s brushes to create his own works.
Margarita did not want to leave the artistic world and graduated in Graphic Design in Communication and from the University of the Istmo of Guatemala where she also served as professor of the Illustration and Artistic Drawing courses.
The artist masters different visual styles in which hyperrealism and abstract painting stand out.
Cristina and Natalia Gisbert
The little Gisbert sisters They have lived immersed in a world of art. Cristina is eight years old and Natalia is four. Both have received art and painting classes since they were two years old. At their young age they are already beginning to generate a collection of their own works.
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