By Eugenio Amézquita Velasco
Translation: Metro News Mx
Translation: Metro News Mx
- Leslie Karen Juárez Mota, at 18 years old, is the youngest artist from Comonfort to exhibit in Europe, an extraordinary achievement.
- The young painter, originally from Orduña de Abajo and with Otomi roots, exhibited two sacred art watercolors in the collective exhibition "Arte Sacra" in Bari, Italy.
- Her works exhibited in the "Art and MORE" Gallery in Italy were: a representation of Saint Juan Diego with the Virgin of Guadalupe's *ayate* (cloak) and the Archangel Saint Michael.
- Leslie Karen has been recognized by the Master Plastic Artist Everardo Pérez, who promoted her leap to Europe, and by the director Yanira Delgado Altamirano.
- Her career includes having won the First Place at the State Level in Painting at CECyTEG twice and the Third Place at the National Level in the same competition.
- Leslie Karen's family, her parents Miguel Ángel Juárez Loma and Ma. Isabel Mota Rodríguez, have been fundamental in supporting her to achieve international recognition.
- She was selected to participate in the prestigious III International Watercolor Festival Córdoba 2025 in Spain, exhibiting her work alongside hundreds of watercolor artists from around the world.
- The artist has exhibited in events such as the Barroco Chamacuero Festival, the International Muralists Festival, and the Water Festival, among others.
- She received, at the time, the support of CECyTE Comonfort II and its director, Claudia Bustamante, as well as the general director Esther Angélica Medina Rivero.
- The painter has placed work in Arkansas and has been recognized by the DIF Comonfort, establishing herself as an exporter of Comonforense art.
COMONFORT.— Leslie Karen Juárez Mota, a young painter from Comonfort, 18 years old, a native of the community of Orduña de Abajo and with deep Otomi roots, has transcended national borders to achieve the dream of the artistic elite: to exhibit her work in Europe. Specifically, in Bari, Italy, and without forgetting her origins, she will participate in the Festival de las Aves (Birds Festival), in this municipality.
The plastic artist, who was born on March 14, 2007, received an important recognition for her participation in the collective exhibition "Arte Sacra," which took place from March 20 to April 5, 2024, at the "Art and MORE" Gallery on Via Cardassi 24. Leslie Karen exhibited two watercolors that deeply honor our traditions: Saint Juan Diego with the ayate and the Virgin of Guadalupe, and the Archangel Saint Michael.
The recognition of her talent was granted by the Master Plastic Artist Everardo Pérez, on behalf of the Italian gallery, and is signed by the Art Director, Yanira Delgado Altamirano. In this international exhibition, the artist shared space with special guests of the stature of Palmarita Guida, Alfredo Brigante Bellini, and Domenico Casadibari.
Career and vital support for the native of Orduña de Abajo
Leslie Karen's career has been one of constant ascent and harvesting of awards at the local, state, and national levels. Her first strokes, according to the narrative, were "scribbling" on the light switches of her house. Her first formal work was a mural, now disappeared, in the "Ignacio Comonfort" primary school in her community. She received her first painting and pencil drawing lessons from the master José Luis Perales Perales, and at the age of 12, she entered INBAL (National Institute of Fine Arts) in Comonfort.
Her academic training was established in the "Irene Rivera" preschool, the "Ignacio Comonfort" primary school, the Telsecundaria No. 79 "Ignacio Comonfort," and the upper secondary level at CECyTEg Comonfort II, in Empalme Escobedo, where the support of the director, Claudia Bustamante, and the general director of CECyTE Guanajuato, Maestra Esther Angélica Medina Rivero, has been fundamental, as they have facilitated her artistic development.
Among her most outstanding achievements are:
- Third Place at the National Level in the Painting discipline at the XXV National Festival of Art and Culture of the CECyTE’s in Aguascalientes (September 2023).
- First Place at the State Level in the CECyTEG Painting Contest on two occasions: 2023 and 2024.
- Her mural work "El color de la EIAA en Chamacuero," carried out on the wall of Aldama street between 2019 and 2020 with teachers and former students of INBA, was chosen among the top 10 nationwide.
The young artist, who has exhibited individually at ISSSTE Celaya and La Tradicional de Yucatán with her exhibition "Búsquedas," has managed to place an easel painting featuring an equine figure in Arkansas, demonstrating her capacity as an exporter of Comonforense art. Furthermore, she has participated in the Madonnari Contest in Celaya and in festivals such as the Barroco Chamacuero Festival and the First International Muralists Festival Comonfort Museum without Borders.
The pillar of support: Her family
An irreplaceable pillar in Leslie Karen's success is her parents, Mr. Miguel Ángel Juárez Loma and Mrs. Ma. Isabel Mota Rodríguez, both natives of Orduña de Abajo. The text emphasizes that their efforts have been realized in their daughter's successes, serving as fundamental support to reach these international heights.
The leap to Europe was the result of the efforts and support of the painter Everardo Pérez, who has mentored her. Additionally, Leslie Karen is now part of the artistic elite as one of the young painters belonging to the Sociedad Mexicana de Acuarelistas (Mexican Society of Watercolorists), the institution that sponsored her participation in the Italian sacred art exhibition.
Her talent and effort have also earned her selection among 702 watercolor artists from around the world to participate in the III International Watercolor Festival Córdoba 2025 in Spain, an achievement that consecrates her as one of the brightest promises of contemporary Mexican art.
The young artist, who was also honored with the recognition for International Women's Day in 2024 by the Municipal DIF of Comonfort, is a source of pride for Guanajuato, carrying the culture of Comonfort, a Pueblo Mágico (Magic Town), and her Otomi roots, to distinguished forums around the world #MetroNewsMx #GuanajuatoDesconocido
