Tag Archives: José Palacios y Román

Huatulco

Art as a Philosophy of Nature Conservation

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By José Palacios y Román—

The Escola d’Arts Aplicades Massana, approaching its centenary, remains a beacon of avant-garde experimentation and critical thinking. Founded in 1929 by the philanthropist Agustí Massana, this Center for Art and Design operates on the premise that “doing is thinking,” fostering innovation across visual arts, design, and applied arts. It was within these historic workshops in Plaça Gardunya—situated in the heart of Barcelona’s Raval neighborhood—that Monse Pla, who also creates under the name Marta Terceño, forged her artistic foundation.

Driven by a global perspective, Pla has exhibited her work across England, Italy, Sweden, Belgium, France, and Spain. Her creative evolution has been shaped by extensive travels through Asia, the United States, and Mexico. Her work resides within the realm of lyrical abstraction, deeply anchored in the natural world; trees, the sea, and shifting skies serve as both her recurring motifs and her primary creative catalysts.

Her watercolors possess a magical, ephemeral, and spiritual quality. Her subtle brushstrokes evoke pure light—appearing closer to vanishing air than to solid pigment. In the presence of her work, the physical canvas seems to dissipate, revealing a sensory energy that transcends mere visual perception. As boundaries, lines, and rigid contours dissolve, viewers are invited to look beyond the surface, transcending the paint itself to experience a deeper, almost transcendental dimension.

In celebration of this vision, Art Gallery Copalli in Huatulco is proud to host Monse Pla (Marta Terceño) for a semester-long artist residency.

The upcoming program includes:
Vital Art Workshop: A masterclass for local artists, held on Saturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2.

Art & Fine Dining Gala: A showcase of her most recent work, hosted at the Quinta Real Boutique Hotel on Friday, August 7, at 7:00 PM.

Retrospective Exhibition: A major retrospective spanning her work since 2000, opening on December 4, at 6:00 PM at Art Gallery Copalli, Huatulco.

In a reflection from her Italian exhibition catalogue, she once noted: “It is nature that reveals itself within us through the mastery and naturalness of the brushstrokes; the shimmering reflections, the light on the water, the nuances of the sky merging with the sea, and the trees tracing a path for the spirit.”

We welcome the artist with great enthusiasm and profound appreciation, furthering Art Gallery Copalli’s commitment to building synergy within Huatulco’s creative community.

Huatulco

Art in Huatulco

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By José Palacios y Román—

“Traveler, there is no path. The path is made by walking,” wrote Antonio Machado in Campos de Castilla. The verse reminds us that uncertainty is part of being alive, part of creating your own way. That idea hits home when I think about painting in Huatulco. Like walking, art here is shaped step by step. Painting is still a young tradition in Huatulco, but it’s already bearing fruit — sometimes in unexpected ways.

When Huatulco became a tourist destination, it drew young artists. Some stayed for a while, then moved on: Marco Antonio Contreras from Puebla, Jesús Castillo from Chiapas, and José del Signo, whose fresco still covers the entire nave of the Parish of Guadalupe.

Others like Rafael Ortega, put down roots. Beyond his studio work and public murals and sculptures, he taught drawing and painting and served for years as director of the Casa de la Cultura. Those painting classes at the Casa de la Cultura planted seeds. Some students discovered a calling. Others, like Edna Guzmán, built professional careers. Abdías García became the first from the municipality to study fine arts, winning a scholarship to the Benito Juárez University of Oaxaca. Aranza León recently graduated from the same school. Also worth mentioning: Eusebio Villalobos, a painter and muralist from Pochutla, and Heriberto Palafox, with his distinguished regional career.

As Bahías de Huatulco grew, so did its art scene. Master artist Rafael Ortega opened his workshop. Tania Guzmán and the Huatulco Art Gallery joined the mix. In Tangolunda, Copalli Art Gallery — run by Liliana Gómez Martínez and cultural promoter José Palacios y Román — focuses on discovering and promoting local artists from Santa María Huatulco.

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There’s also the annual REMAX exhibition, launched by Jim and Mary Spicka with support from Bernard Healy (Kino) to showcase local and Oaxacan talent. Colectivo Tilcuate hosts occasional shows plus their yearly event, Oaxaquia.

Copalli Art Gallery has become a launchpad for emerging artists. Young talents like Aranza León, Javi Vasher, Hergón, and Abi Guzmán all held their first exhibitions there, introducing themselves to the community.

That same synergy sparked “La Magia del Color” — The Magic of Color — a collective of women artists. Twelve of them recently debuted at Copalli Art Gallery, following a moving exhibition of children and adults from the Casa de la Cultura. This is just a glimpse of how painting is taking center stage in Huatulco, right as the town itself steps into new growth.

The movement keeps going with workshops and courses, like the one this August with international artist Monse Pla — Martha Terceño from Catalonia — plus a major retrospective of her work.

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Huatulco

Osta, Artist of the World (Borders are Lines on a Map)

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By José Palacios y Román

Andrew Osta is an artist of the world. Speaking Slavic languages like Ukrainian and Russian, and having to learn English as a third language to pursue a university degree in Canada, Andrew went on to teach English in South Korea. Here he learned to speak basic Korean and write its characters. As he began painting, destiny brought both challenges and opportunities such as delving into shamanism in Peru and later settling in Mexico to master Latin American Spanish. When Osta returned from Peru after experiencing medicine journeys with ayahuasca, he continued painting and was invited by the master Pablo Amaringo for an exhibition. It was this experience that marked a turning point and a milestone in his career.

The following year, he decided to settle in the picturesque and attractive town of San Miguel de Allende in the state of Guanajuato. He was struck by the neo-Gothic church of San Miguel Arcángel, which Osta has painted countless times. This parish is the city’s main symbol and a quintessential example of pink quarry stone and twin towers in Mexico. San Miguel de Allende welcomed Osta; he makes friends easily despite being introverted, and the art market has supported him in being a full-time artist. Osta frequently exhibits his work in San Miguel de Allende, where galleries and exhibition centers showcase his art. His presence is appreciated, recognized, and met with great affection.

Osta enjoys traveling to Oaxaca City, and from there to the San José del Pacífico area, where he has his spiritual brothers and sisters. He has spent many days in Huatulco recreating the beaches of this destination for over a decade.

In the Tangolunda hotel zone, at the Copalli Art Gallery, Andrew Osta held his first solo exhibition on January 12, 2024, featuring some twenty works in both large and small formats, which were enjoyed by the public. Several pieces have been purchased by Huatulco residents and now hang on their walls. Since then, Osta has been an exclusive artist with Copalli, and the gallery has exhibited his paintings for sale in boutique hotels and various exhibitions in the region.

Osta lives in a beautiful home at the foot of Cerro de San Felipe, very close to the city of Oaxaca. He frequently visits Huatulco because he loves the sun, the sea, and the surrounding nature, which inspire him to continue painting. It continues to be a true pleasure to spend time with his family: his ever-smiling wife, Ninfa, and their two children, Nicolas (Niko) and Elenita, who inherited his creativity and sweet nature.

Andrew Osta’s work is on permanent display at Copalli Art Gallery, open daily from 10 am to 7 pm. Of note, his work is also featured in San Miguel de Allende, where, through synergy, we are building bridges of understanding and creation thanks to the successful initiatives of Jane Bauer and the expansion of The Eye magazine.