Monumental Mixed Media Painting by Mexican Artist Jesus Tellosa, Signed & Dated

Details

Description

A monumental and visually arresting mixed media painting created in 1988 by celebrated Mexican artist Jesús Tellosa (1936–2012). Richly layered … Read more A monumental and visually arresting mixed media painting created in 1988 by celebrated Mexican artist Jesús Tellosa (1936–2012). Richly layered with symbolism, texture, and vibrant color, this exceptional work exemplifies Tellosa's distinctive fusion of Mexican folk traditions, Surrealism, Neo-Expressionism, and contemporary Latin American modernism.

Executed in acrylic and mixed media on board, the composition presents a commanding ceremonial figure dressed in luminous blue robes, flanked by a fiery crimson female figure and a monumental anthropomorphic bird. Floating throughout the composition are hand-applied crocheted textile elements, ribboned ceremonial medallions, buttons, silver leaf accents, and painted decorative motifs that recall indigenous ritual objects, religious iconography, milagros, papel picado, embroidery, and the handcrafted traditions of rural Mexico.

Tellosa masterfully combines painting with found materials, transforming the surface into a tactile relief that blurs the line between painting, assemblage, and sculpture. The result is an extraordinary visual narrative that explores identity, spirituality, mythology, femininity, nature, and the enduring power of Mexican cultural memory.

The artist's unmistakable palette—vivid reds, deep cobalt blues, saturated violets, brilliant oranges, emerald greens, and luminous silver—creates a dramatic emotional intensity while emphasizing the ceremonial quality of the figures. Every surface reveals layers of expressive brushwork, collage, and hand-applied embellishments, rewarding close inspection.

Paintings from Tellosa's mature period rarely appear on the market, particularly examples of this scale and complexity. Measuring over four feet in both height and width, this museum-scale work possesses exceptional decorative presence while remaining an important example of late 20th-century Mexican contemporary art.

Perfect for collectors of:

Mexican Modernism
Latin American Art
Folk Modernism
Surrealism
Neo-Expressionism
Outsider and Visionary Art
Mixed Media Assemblage
Museum-quality Contemporary Art
About Jesús Tellosa (1936–2012)

Born in Tacámbaro, Michoacán, Jesús Tellosa was one of Mexico's most distinctive multidisciplinary artists, working throughout his career as a painter, sculptor, jeweler, designer, and creator of mixed media environments. Deeply influenced by the artistic traditions of western Mexico, Tellosa developed an unmistakable visual language that merged indigenous symbolism, popular religious imagery, handcrafted materials, and modern artistic experimentation.

Rather than separating fine art from traditional craft, Tellosa celebrated their intersection, incorporating textiles, metals, found objects, and decorative elements into his paintings. His work reflects the vibrant cultural heritage of Mexico while embracing the expressive freedom of modern art movements including Surrealism and Neo-Expressionism.

Tellosa exhibited extensively throughout Mexico and internationally, and his works are represented in important private collections. Today, his paintings are increasingly sought after by collectors interested in significant post-war Mexican art that exists outside the better-known muralist tradition, offering a highly individual vision rooted in Mexican identity and craftsmanship.

Details
Artist: Jesús Tellosa (Mexican, 1936–2012)
Title: Untitled
Date: 1988
Medium: Acrylic and mixed media with collage, textile, ribbon, buttons, silver leaf, and crocheted elements on board
Signature: Signed and dated lower right, "Tellosa 88"

Dimensions: 51.75 in. H × 47.5 in. W (framed) See less