On April 8th an exciting new art exhibit featuring paintings by Jalisco artists Ignacio Guerrero and David Zepeda Moreno will open at Galleria Dante, Basilio Badillo 269 on the south side of Puerto Vallarta, with a cocktail reception from 6–10 pm.

Ignacio Guerrero, essentially a self-taught artist, was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco in 1963. He displayed an interest in drawing and painting from childhood. After graduating with a degree in graphic design from the University of Guadalajara, he achieved the post of art director for several prestigious advertising agencies in the city, as well as illustrating for numerous magazines and newspapers. Nevertheless, he subsequently left the world of advertising to devote himself completely to painting; something that he feels gives him total freedom of expression.

Ignacio is free when he paints and at the same time frees us of any prejudice to dream, sleep or awaken. His paintings in oil and acrylic, evoke a strange universe of birds, cages, horses, tigers, mermaids, men and women in metamorphosis, perhaps coming from his dreams or imagination and utilizing his own painting techniques to enhance the poetry of his expression.

The birds are hummingbirds, pigeons, herons, accompanying each visual journey into the sky beyond. Each figure is an allegory, an honest emotion in animals and characters translated by mastering the technique and the brush. Everything they see is a game, a wonderful play of colors and textures.

The horses gallop with energy, the doors cannot find their keys, branches of the trees crave to float. Women stretch their arms and legs to hold a decent comfortable place on the canvas where they will live. There is no doubt that the more pleasant and provocative muses, parade with enthusiasm for each painting and pictorial direct the orchestra with his hands flying in infinite creativity.

Guerrero's work has been shown and recognized in Mexico, France, Germany, Canada, USA, Portugal, Australia. His work was selected by the committee of the International Biennial of Contemporary Art to be exhibited in the 2009 event in Florence, Italy.

The fun surreal dream-world of Ignacio conjures up hiding places along the road to the impossible. His paintings in oil and acrylic, evoke a strange universe of birds, cages, horses, tigers, mermaids, men and women in metamorphosis, perhaps coming from his dreams or imagination and utilizing his own painting techniques to enhance the poetry of his expression.

He has participated in approximately 50 group and individual exhibitions, and has received many awards and special recognitions. His work, which is surrealist in quality, is in collections in France, Germany, Canada, USA and Mexico.

Click HERE to see the paintings of Ignacio Guerrero currently on display at Galleria Dante.Note: More works to arrive at Galleria Dante on April 17 from a show held over by popular demand at the Chamber of Commerce in Guadalajara.

David Zepeda Moreno was born in August 1979 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. In 1995 he began his studies in formal drawing and painting under the direction of Professor Israel Zzepda. David has been exhibiting, in individual and group showings, since 2002.

In his own words:

Approximately at the age of 5 or 6 years I began a passion for drawing, as I tried to emulate those heroes of my youth, as well as an older brother who was already passionate about this same form of expression and was responsible for me. He would influence, motivate and support me greatly to the present.

Subsequently, drawing became my favorite pastime, since poor health (asthmatic bronchitis) in my childhood years, did not allow me to participate in other activities, with children my own age. During those years, drawing largely filled that lack of interaction. Also at that age I already remunerated small economic amounts, for the reproduction of comics, which for a child was quite rewarding.

Years later, I would dedicate much of my youth to sports, with the idea of being a professional soccer player, an activity that later I would give up, for health reasons. My dreams truncated - my frustrations drove me into learning about painting, because at that time, (1995) I was approached by he who was and is my mentor, who in turn helped to channel my ability and potential.

Learning from various groups, techniques, forms and projects, philosophy and way of life which for me has fortunately resulted in great personal growth and intellectual accomplishment, in my short career. I have also tried to supplement my growth through other artistic manifestations, cultural and sports (tae kwon do), which I must mention as it has given me the health and mental clarity that has contributed greatly, and been the perfect complement to my art projects - collaborating in one way or another, in moments of crisis, and helping in the search for greater personal integrity.

What is it that along with painting gives me passion and absorbs me greatly? I love both painting in general and its diverse manifestations as well as the other fine arts, sculpture, film, theater, poetry, literature and music, trying to keep in constant contact with each. Loving each and every one of them without trying to ignore and belittle any of them and their various forms of expression and manifestation, their various shapes and riches, trying not to favor one.

David, who also has a love of the romance languages, continues:

Those who confine me and free me, who take me the sensory nirvana, spiritually and intellectually, and conclude by saying, like Andrea Bocelli y Giorgia Ligabue, “vivo per lei,” a beautiful language that permeates and enriches me artistically and is presented, in part, directly and indirectly together with the painting, equally beautiful, the rich and engaging romance languages. But without ignoring or belittling other, equally important languages, I also dabble in learning English. That along with my native language, Spanish, which I also love and which also compliments my artistic conception.

I have been inspired by many great old masters, and some current day Masters: Leonardo, Michelangelo, Botticelli, El Greco, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, van Gogh, Remedios Varo, Picasso, Dali, Renoir, Magritte, Lautrec, Gauguin, Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Clemente Orozco, Siqueiros, Gabriel Flores and obviously Israel Zzepda. From 1996 to 2004, I assisted Master Israel ZZepda on murals in Guadalajara, Cancun, Q. Roo and Michoacan.

You can meet these two very talented artists at Galleria Dante on April 8th, 2011 from 6 to 10 pm. Other artists in attendance that evening include: Oscar Solis, Juana Cortez, Guillermo Brockman, Oscar Capeche, Yvan Genest, Cherie Sibley, Janice Reuland, Peter Spataro, Consuelo and Edgar Martinez.