Umenec
Born in Guadalajara, Mexiko
Juan Soriano (1920 – 2006)
Juan Soriano (b. August 18, 1920; d. February 10, 2006), Mexican painter and sculptor, stands as one of the most prominent figures in twentieth-century Latin American art. Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, his artistic journey began early, marked by prodigious talent and nurtured by a familial environment steeped in eccentricity—his father, Rafael Rodríguez Soriano, participated actively in the Mexican Revolution, shaping Soriano’s worldview from childhood; Amalia Montoya Navarro, his mother, bravely served as a “soldadera,” embodying resilience and fortitude. This formative backdrop profoundly influenced Soriano's artistic sensibilities, fostering an unwavering dedication to exploring diverse mediums and stylistic approaches.
Soriano’s initial training encompassed the guidance of Francisco Rodríguez “Caracalla” at Evolución Studio in Guadalajara, alongside fellow artists Raúl Anguiano and Jesús Guerrero Galván, establishing a foundation for his subsequent explorations into European art through literature and visual media—a formative experience that instilled within him an appreciation for both classical traditions and avant-garde innovations.