José Luis Loria Méndez

José Luis Loría Méndez was born on 26 September 1951 in Mexico City. He is the eldest son of Luis Isidro Loría Euan and Elia Raquel Méndez Peraza, both originally from Yucatán. After the birth of their three children, the family moved to Mérida, where Loría Méndez completed his early schooling at the American School of Mérida (COLAMMY). It was during this formative period that he first came into contact with art. His earliest painting lessons were given by Mrs Peggy Dutton, the wife of the British Consul, at COLAMMY.

In 1968, the family returned to Mexico City, where he completed his secondary education at High School No. 4 Vidal Castañeda y Nájera of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). From a young age, Loría Méndez dedicated his life to art. In the early stages of his career, he experimented with a wide range of techniques and materials, including oil painting and textile work, gradually developing a disciplined artistic approach rooted in careful observation and rigorous study of his subjects.

He ultimately found his distinctive artistic language in Hyperrealism, an art movement characterised by an intensified, highly precise representation of reality. Loría Méndez perfected an exceptional technique using graphite and coloured pencils, through which he is able to create a palette of more than 650 tonal variations from approximately 140 colours. This method allows him to achieve transparency, reproduce unique colour nuances, and avoid opaque or overloaded effects, thereby preserving the natural integrity of the subject.

In 1971, he undertook his first journey through Europe, an experience that proved decisive for his artistic development. Profoundly impressed by European museums—particularly the Prado Museum in Madrid—he spent extensive periods studying the works of the great masters. That same year, on 6 November 1971, he held his first exhibition in Chetumal, Quintana Roo.

The flora and fauna of Mexico have since become the central themes of his artistic production. His works are the result of long-term research processes, often informed by scientific studies and specialist sources, many of which he continues to explore and develop today. A significant milestone in his career occurred in 1992, when his work Toj—depicting the bird Toj (Eumomota superciliosa) perched on a branch of a Dzidzilché tree (Gymnopodium floribundium) alongside a white orchid—was selected by the Government of Yucatán as an official gift for Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan during his visit to Chichén Itzá.

Loría Méndez’s hyperrealistic works offer a refined illusion of reality, engaging the viewer’s perception with remarkable precision. His artworks have been exhibited widely, both nationally and internationally, and continue to stand as a testament to his technical mastery and deep commitment to the natural and cultural heritage of Mexico.

Contact:
Homepage: https://joseluisloriamendez.jimdofree.com/
Email: canarisjll@gmail.com