Electa Arenal facts for kids

Revolución Cubana (1965) mural, found in Holguin, Cuba

Electa Arenal (born Elena Electa Arenal y Huerta, May 16, 1935 – June 12, 1969) was a talented Mexican artist. She was famous for painting large murals and creating sculptures. Murals are big paintings on walls. She was part of the important Mexican muralism art movement.

Electa's Early Life and School

Electa Arenal was born in Mexico City, Mexico, on May 16, 1935. Her parents, Elena Huerta Muzquiz and Luis Leopoldo Arenal, were both artists. They were also very interested in social and political ideas. Electa's sister, Sandra Arenal Huerta, grew up to be a writer and activist.

Electa's mother was part of a group called the Taller de Gráfica Popular. This means 'People's Graphic Workshop'. It was a famous art group in Mexico.

From 1941 to 1945, Electa lived in the Soviet Union. She was there with her mother and sister. This was during World War II. They lived there for political reasons.

After returning to Mexico, Electa went to art school. She studied at the Escuela Nacional de Pintura, Escultura y Grabado. She also studied at the Academy of San Carlos. Later, she married an architect named Gustavo Vargas Escoboza. They had two children together.

Her Art Career

Electa Arenal started her career by helping other artists. She helped her mother paint frescoes. These were at the Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro in Coahuila, Mexico.

She also helped the famous artist Diego Rivera. She worked on his outdoor murals. These were at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario (Olympic Stadium) and Insurgentes Theater. This was between 1952 and 1954.

In 1961, Electa moved to Holguín, Cuba. She went there with her family. In Cuba, she opened her own art workshop. Many of her best murals are in Cuba. Some of them are Canto a la Revolución (1962) and Revolución Cubana (1965). She also created Atomos y Niños (1963) and Infancia (1963). Electa did not usually sign her artworks.

Electa returned to Mexico in 1965. She began working with the mural team of artist David Alfaro Siqueiros. David Alfaro Siqueiros was her uncle. He was her father's brother-in-law.

Death and How She is Remembered

Electa Arenal died on June 12, 1969. She was helping David Alfaro Siqueiros with a mural. The mural was called Marcha de la Humanidad en la tierra y hacia el Cosmos. This means "March of Humanity on Earth and towards the Cosmos". It was at the Polyforum Cultural Siqueiros in Mexico City. Electa fell from a scaffold while working.

In June 2019, an art show celebrated her life. It was called Buscando a Electa, which means "Looking for Electa". The show marked 50 years since her death. It was held at the Provincial Museum of History in Holguin, Cuba.

Electa's Artworks

Here is a list of some of Electa Arenal's artworks found in Cuba:

• Canto a la Revolución (1962) – a mural and facade at Raymundo Castro hospital, Puerto Padre, Cuba.
• Atomos y Niños (1963) – a bas-relief at the Polyclinic of Velasco, Velasco, Cuba.
• Infancia (1963) – a bas-relief at Manuel Díaz Legrá Polyclinic, Holguin, Cuba.
• El monumento a las Pascuas Sangrientas (1963) – at the "Forest of the Heroes", in the Plaza de la Revolucion de Holguín, Holguin, Cuba.
• Maternidad (1964) – Cuba.
• Palomas (1965) – Cuba.
• Revolución Cubana (1965) – at the Provincial Museum of History, Holguin, Cuba.

Images for kids

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  Revolución Cubana (1965) mural, found in Holguin, Cuba

See also

In Spanish: Electa Arenal para niños