Esperanza Martinez (1934-1998)

Mexico / California 

Pair of Original Pastels

Esparanza was born as Esperanza Perez in Mexico City in 1934. Her artistic subjects were an array of Mexican and indigenous people and their life. She is best known for her detailed portraits and genre scenes of rural Mexican farmers, formal portraits of prominent Mexicans, Mexican-Americans and later, in her American period, she painted pastels of Native American subjects. 

In Mexico she studied with the renowned Mexican artist Diego Rivera. Her work shows some influence from this period although more detailed. She was a precocious young artist selling her first painting at the age of twelve. These pieces date to 1959 and are highly accomplished for a 25 year old artist. 

Her family moved to the L.A. area in 1963 where she lived with her family in Hacienda Heights. That was four years after these two pastels were created. She passed away from cancer in Mexico in 1998.

These are two original pastels on black paper. Frames measure 14 inches by 19 inches. Sight measures 9 1/2 inches by 12 inches. Double mat. Signed, dated and located to Mexico LR.

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