Nest of Ideas
Previously published at paigenewman.com
Puerto Vallarta, in the Mexican state of Jalisco, is known for its beautiful beaches and sunsets, festive nightlife and culture, and vibrant 12-block Malecon (boardwalk along the coast). Another claim to fame is the growing art scene. Global tourists and locals enjoy exploring the many murals and bronze and stone sculptures lining the Malecon. Galleries, art walks, and creative people are found all over the “friendliest city in the world.”
One artist who particularly shines is Qvetzal (his name comes from the colorful Central American quetzal birds). This kind, bilingual man has been painting, drawing, and sculpting since he was young. He studied graphic design and fine arts in Mexico City. After relocating to Puerto Vallarta a decade ago, he began incorporating more color into his pieces, and his career and sales blossomed.
Qvetzal
His influences include famous Spaniards Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso, along with Hilma af Klint of Sweden, one of the first major abstract artists. Qvetzal’s style lies between modern art — approximately from the 1860s to the 1970s — and postmodern art, which occurred roughly from the 1970s to the early 2000s.
Currently transitioning from figurative to abstract work, Qvetzal enjoys sprinkling spirituality into his creative pieces. The artist also uses digital images and objects from around the world, merging various cultures and concepts into a composition. In addition, he mentors advanced artists (typically adults).
This prolific painter is not even 40 and has already created about 70 murals in Mexico, mostly in Puerto Vallarta. Others are in the U.S. and Canada. A particularly eye-catching and colorful one wraps around a building at the corner of Calle Morelos and Calle Pipila – “Frida’s Underwater Dream.”
Qvetzal’s paintings are also found internationally, and his future goals include being featured at a New York gallery while he continues painting in Mexico.
Meet Qvetzal on Saturday, March 1, 2025, from 7 to 10 pm at his solo show at Galeria Zenit, Libertad 292, in Centro, Puerto Vallarta. The exhibition will run through March 15.
