Consuelo González Salazar facts for kids

Consuelo González Salazar (born in 1941) is a talented Mexican painter. Her amazing artwork has earned her a special spot in the Salón de la Plástica Mexicana. This is a very important group for artists in Mexico.

Early Life and Art Beginnings

Consuelo grew up in a city called Torreón, in Coahuila, Mexico. From a young age, she loved art. She learned to draw and paint at a private school. This school even had its own art gallery. That's where Consuelo had her very first art shows!

She started by painting small pictures and portraits of people. Later, she moved to Mexico City with her family.

Discovering New Art Styles

In Mexico City, Consuelo met many young artists. These artists were exploring new ways to create art. They were moving away from the older style called Mexican muralism. This style often featured large paintings on walls.

Consuelo became very interested in a style called abstract expressionism. This type of art uses colors and shapes to show feelings, not just realistic pictures. She admired artists like Alice Rahon and Leonora Carrington. But she also still loved the works of famous artists like Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros.

Studying Art at Night

Consuelo was very dedicated to her art. She attended the Academy of San Carlos to study painting. She went to classes at night, after her young children were asleep. Her home became a mix of a nursery and an art studio!

Her hard work paid off. In 1965, she earned the chance to attend day classes at the Academy. There, she learned from great teachers like Santos Balmori and Luis Nishizawa.

First Art Shows

Consuelo held her first solo art show in 1973 at the Villa Olímpica in Mexico City. A few years later, in 1975, she had another show. This one was at the Galería Balace in the Polanco area of Mexico City. These shows helped people see her unique art.

The El Caracol Art Group

In the early 1980s, Consuelo joined a group of artists called El Caracol. This name means "The Snail" in Spanish. The group started from an art workshop led by Carlos Estrada.

El Caracol included artists like Susana Campos. The group became very well-known. They had a huge art show sponsored by the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura (INBA). This big exhibition took place at the José María Velasco Gallery in Mexico City.

Recognition and Later Work

In 1984, Consuelo González Salazar was invited to become a member of the Salón de la Plástica Mexicana. This is a big honor for Mexican artists.

A famous art critic named Raquel Tibol wrote about Consuelo's work in 1985. This led to more important exhibitions for Consuelo. She had a show called Continente Convulso (which means "Convulsed Continent"). It was shown at the Museo Alvar and the Museo de Arte Carrillo Gil. Both of these museums were supported by INBA.

For several years, Consuelo continued to show her art in important places. These included the National Auditorium and the Museo Rufino Tamayo.

In the 1990s, Consuelo decided to focus on other art forms. She worked on graphic arts. She also spent time editing and publishing several books.