Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - An art exhibition by Guadalajara artist Luis Valui opens at Galleria Dante on Friday, January 23, as part of this week's Southside Shuffle. Stop by Puerto Vallarta's largest and most eclectic art gallery from 6-10 pm to meet the artist and enjoy complimentary cocktails.

Luis Castellanos Valui

Born in Guadalajara in 1955, Luis is a painter who infuses his Latin American roots with the traditions of tropical jazz and cafe culture. He studied for two years at the Fine Arts University in Guadalajara. At the age of 20 he moved to Mexico City where he studied at the "Esmeralda" school. He restored Colonial and Pre-Hispanic art for 4 years at the request of the Mexican government.

He then established himself in the Bohemian community of Tepoztlan, Morelos, a small village south of Mexico City. There he began his formal career as a painter. In 1986, he had his first individual exhibition at the prestigious OMR Gallery in Mexico City. Since then he has exhibited in collective and individual shows in the Modern Art Museum in Mexico City, the Modern Art Museum in Monterrey, Chac Mool Gallery in Los Angeles, living in different parts of Mexico and abroad. He has done shows from California to New York, Mexico City to Paris, Islas Mujeres to Vallarta, and back again.

Luis paints in oil, as well as water color. When you attend his shows, you will hear the friendly bantering of his collectors: "Well I own 7 of his paintings." Another will say, "But I own 11." Very few people stop at purchasing only one painting by Luis.

His paintings make you smile and leave you with a warm, fuzzy feeling inside. Luis is a painter of our senses, what you feel looking at his paintings: to dance, to sing, to dream, to love. And when it comes to dance, there is probably not a style that Luis has not painted: mambo, tango, salsa, cha-cha-cha, waltz. There are scenes on the beach, by the campfire, in plazas, street and market scenes. His paintings are fresh, luminous and definitely tropical. They are full of humor and saturated with color and light.

Collected by the J. Paul Getty Institute and Capitol Records, Valui creates rhythmic images, bringing his subjects to life. His works are also in the collection of Atlas and Mambo Restaurants, Go West Productions, Televisa, Ripstein Collection, Univision. At his openings in Los Angeles, many Hollywood jet setters are among the collectors.

"For me, in the beginning it was van Gogh," Valui says. "But, over the years, I learned about the German Expressionists, pre-Hispanic art, and became influenced by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse and Marc Chagall." Not just people, but animals are also a favorite subject - crabs, parrots, lions, tigers being some of his most favorites to paint.

Musicians and dancers recur in Mr. Valui's paintings, and their heat and energy are palpable. You could get a charley horse in your calf just looking at his dancers' legs. "We say in Mexico, when you are a musician who is very ..." he rolled his hand in the air, "... very talented, very into it, we say, 'tiene duende', he has it in his blood, in his soul."

"What I have that to say about my painting, is expressed in that same painting. It does not matter if is figurative or abstract, what is important is if there is magic in that work – in a few words... if it produces as emotion in you. Perhaps music is the most pure form of art and the interpretation of the rhythms, harmonies and tones can be applied to the painting, sculpture, movie, literature, and in all the arts. The inner need is what carries the artist to express that what is personnel to him, through his life experiences and his own internal beat to the music."

Luis has started a new chapter in his life. He is in love and it shows in his works! They are happy and in his opinion and ours, "his best works to date." Thank you, Luis Valui, for bringing us such joy.

Don't miss your chance to meet this popular artist. Be sure to stop by Galleria Dante on Friday, January 23rd from 6 to 10 pm during this week's South Side Shuffle.

While you are there, be sure to check out Di Vino Dante Wine & Tapas Bar, a new addition to the old hacienda that houses Galleria Dante and the gallery's sculpture garden. This chic wine and tapas bar is open Monday through Saturday from 2:00 to 11:00 pm.

Open Mon-Fri from 10 am-5 pm, or by appointment during the Summer months, Galleria Dante is located at Basilio Badillo #269 in Puerto Vallarta's Romantic Zone. For more information, call (322) 222-2477, or send an email to info(at)galleriadante.com.

Click HERE to learn more about Galleria Dante.