By Eugenio Amézquita Velasco
Translation: Metro News Mx
-The visual artist Ramón López Santoyo carries out the mission of demonstrating that the arts are within everyone's reach, fostering knowledge and skills.
-López Santoyo is known for his generosity and enthusiastically supports young painters in Celaya, such as Leslie Karen Juárez Mota.
-The painter, a former student of ESMERALDA and holding a Bachelor's Degree in Sculpture, is a pillar of the Association of Plastic Arts of Celaya (Asociación de la Plástica Celayense).
-His exhibition "Sueños Rotos" (Broken Dreams) (2024) addresses violence and disappearances in 12 pieces, concluding with a work called "Esperanza" (Hope).
-The show "Recuento" (Tally/Review) (2023) is an autobiography in 4 parts, utilizing oil, drawing, and recycled materials for supports.
-López Santoyo is a teacher with more than 15 years of experience, teaching visual arts in primary and secondary schools.
-The artist held the exhibition "Máscaras de Pandemia" (Pandemic Masks) (2022), reflecting the experiences of the health contingency period.
-Ramón López Santoyo is an active member of aPlace and the "Francisco E. Tresguerras" Art Garden in Celaya.
-He taught the workshop "Del lápiz al color" (From Pencil to Color) at the Casa de la Cultura of Celaya, teaching chiaroscuro, sketching, and color theory.
-He participated in the "Expo Acuarela 2025" and in the collective exhibition "La Divina Comedia" (The Divine Comedy) in Celaya.
Ramón López Santoyo, a visual artist originally from Celaya, Guanajuato, carries out a clear mission in his career: to demonstrate that visual arts are within the reach of all people, through a program that seeks to foster knowledge and skills. Born on April 30, 1966, the artist, who is a member of aPlace and the Francisco E. Tresguerras Art Garden, is a father of three children.
His academic background is robust and diverse, including studies at the National School of Painting, Sculpture, and Engraving (ESMERALDA), where he studied from 1986 to 1988, and a Bachelor's Degree in Sculpture from the Universidad del Valle de México (1990-1994). Additionally, he holds a maximum degree of studies in the Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design.
López Santoyo's work is distinguished by its introspective and social focus, reflected in his three most recent individual exhibitions, which delve into the human condition and contemporary problems.
Ramón López Santoyo, a True Artist Brother to Artists
Ramón López Santoyo is an artist who embodies generosity and passion for art in his community. Far from being a self-absorbed painter, his calling is to serve and share, a quality that distinguishes him in the Celaya environment. Characterized by his simplicity and kindness, he has dedicated himself with enthusiasm to building bridges for new generations.
A clear example of his altruism is the unconditional support he has given to young female painters, such as Leslie Karen Juárez Mota from Comonfort, a native of Orduña de Abajo, whom he has promoted in exhibitions held at various points in the city, even helping her sell her own works. Furthermore, his commitment extends to serving his colleagues through his tireless work in the Association of Plastic Arts of Celaya (Asociación de la Plástica Celayense). Ramón López Santoyo not only paints his reality but also enriches that of others.
Expression and Social Meaning in Three Exhibitions
Ramón, as his friends simply call him, has presented three individual exhibitions.
The first was "Máscaras de Pandemia" (Pandemic Masks) (2022). This exhibition was held on Sunday, March 6, 2022, at the Kiosco del Arte in Alameda Hidalgo, Celaya, Gto., organized by aPlace. The exhibition included oils and drawings, highlighting pieces on canvas titled "Ignorancia" (Ignorance), "Esperanza" (Hope), and "Pasión" (Passion).
The second exhibition was "Recuento" (Tally/Review) (2023). The artist defines "Recuento" as a life experience. The creative process involved the challenge of approaching a thematic and technical axis that was constantly changing; the initial sketches and color palettes shifted brushstroke by brushstroke. The exhibition answers the question "Who am I?" and was divided into four parts:
-Coincidir (Coincide/Meet): A tribute and expression of gratitude to the people he has met and recognized.
-Orígenes (Origins): A journey through his family origins, starting with his great-grandparents, parents, and siblings, continuing with his children, and ending with his "ghosts."
-Autorretrato (Self-Portrait): Divided into three sections representing the "I was," the "I am," and the "I will be."
-Temática distinta (Different Theme): Varied works, including previous pieces and new works where he experiments with materials and forms.
The techniques used combined physical and digital media, with a notable effort to recycle abandoned materials to convert them into stretchers and supports. The artist concludes that "Recuento" is the sum of his family and contextual environment, where he recognizes himself in others.
His third exhibition was called "Sueños Rotos" (Broken Dreams) (2024). The protagonists of this show are the people who have lost their lives, have been disappeared, and their close circles (parents, children, siblings, friends). The theme arises from the "normalization" of violence in society. The artist seeks to make it visible, as this violence breaks dreams and causes pain, rage, and impotence in the families. The exhibition was available at least until October 27, 2024.
The exhibition consisted of 12 pieces in different techniques that express emotions surrounding these situations. Its structure is divided into five parts. The first part consists of three assembled pieces (ensambles). The second is a triptych. The third is a montage with various elements that the artist calls "Soy tu voz" (I Am Your Voice). The fourth part consists of six pieces that speak of justice. Finally, the fifth part, which can be the beginning or the end, is "Esperanza" (Hope).
Collective Participations in Celaya
The artist also actively participates in collective exhibitions and cultural events in the region, such as Expo Acuarela 2025. López Santoyo participated and collaborated with photographs of the works and the opening ceremony of the “Expo Acuarela 2025” at the Kiosco de la Alameda Hidalgo in Celaya, a show that featured over 50 pieces by regional artists.
The exhibition "La Divina Comedia" (The Divine Comedy), where he participated in the collective exhibition of students from Academia Vanguardia, in which 16 works were exhibited (mainly in oil) focused on the interpretation of “The Divine Comedy” by Dante Alighieri. López Santoyo is credited as the source of the photographs for the opening event, held in a cultural space at a well-known local restaurant.
Sources:
-Reporte Bajío - (https://reportebajio.com/expone-ramon-lopez-santoyo-obra-sobre-situaciones-actuales-en-el-kiosko-de-la-alameda/)
-El Sol de México - (https://oem.com.mx/elsoldelbajio/cultura/inscribete-al-taller-del-lapiz-al-color-en-la-casa-de-la-cultura-de-celaya-y-mejora-tus-habilidades-artisticas-21162769)
-El Sol del Bajío (Expo Acuarela 2025) - (https://oem.com.mx/elsoldelbajio/cultura/expo-acuarela-2025-artistas-plasticos-de-celaya-y-la-region-participaron-en-esta-muestra-26738898)
