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Manuel Lepe, the painter from Vallarta

The Vallarta painter has represented this tourist destination around the world. His naïve art is considered one of the great artistic legacies of Mexico.

The son of a large family, in which none of the members was an artist, Manuel Lepe began painting at the age of 7 without having received any formal training. Shortly after, he dropped out of elementary school to follow his path as an artist, which his father long opposed as an activity of little manliness.

Fortunately, Manuel ignored his father's objections and devoted himself to painting, self-taught and developing his own naïve style.

►Naïve art artistic legacy of Mexico

Back then there was no way he could have seen the works of the great European naïve painters. In Mexico it was not a popular trend either. Therefore Manuel could not have copied his unique style from anyone else.

Naïve art or «Naif» is an artistic current whose primary quality is ingenuity and spontaneity. It is located very close to children's art, far from academic canons. Therefore, it is almost a requirement that the naïve artist has no school or formal art training, so that their art has few or no influences and is genuine.

Manuel Lepe
The letters of Puerto Vallarta illustrate the naive style of Manuel Lepe.

From a very young age, Manuel walked the roads of Puerto Vallarta with a backpack full of brushes, capturing landscapes and moments that he would later reproduce in his paintings. This is how great works such as Fish Sellers were born, the original of which belongs to the billionaire Carlos Slim and of which Queen Elizabeth of England has a copy in the Royal Museum of Windsor Castle.

►Manuel Lepe: an international legacy

His name crossed borders and Manuel gained great fame. One of his exhibitions broke the attendance record at the United States Museum of California with 1 million 140 thousand people. The day Lepe visited his exhibition, he was carried on the shoulders while some 20,000 people cheered him on. In the same way he received the keys to the city of Texas as a distinguished citizen.

His paintings have also been replicated on posters and postcards in order to multiply them. From 1980 to date, the Kiosco painting has served to promote Puerto Vallarta internationally in various campaigns. In 1979, La Ronda was selected by UNICEF as the official image to promote children's rights around the world. In this way Manuel Lepe left an international legacy.

Manuel Lepe, a cheerful man with a big heart

Despite his great success, Manuel was always a simple man with a big heart. She took refuge to paint at home, where she lived with her three children. His daughter Marcela, also a painter, says that her father painted until the wee hours of the morning and she fell asleep at his feet. Manuel would later take her to his bed and when she woke up, her father was already painting again.

Manuel Lepe
Work and personal items of Manuel Lepe.

He never wanted to use air conditioning or fans; he opened doors and windows to let the air flow no matter how hot it felt. He showered throughout the day as many times as necessary, dressing again all wet. In his house there were always meetings, parties, joy. All day he listened to music: he loved mariachi and ranchera music. One of her favorite singers was her comadre Lola Beltrán, Marcela's first communion godmother.

In painting he admired Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros and Jose Clemente Orozco. Manuel was very proud of Mexico and was a great promoter of cultural exchanges. He brought concerts, orchestras and ballets to Puerto Vallarta, from that of Amalia Hernández, to the Bolshoi of Russia.

Puerto Vallarta: a paradise

His greatest admiration and affection was for children. Any day he could arrive at a school with piñatas and school supplies to give to everyone. It was not uncommon for classes to be interrupted to go out and break the piñatas: it was very spontaneous.

When asked why in his paintings he always painted angels and children, he replied: "I paint angels because Vallarta is paradise; I paint children because they have no worries or problems, they only think about playing, being happy, and I want to convey that with my paintings”.

Every morning she got up to take her children to school and from there she went to the market. He really liked to walk to do his sketches and he was always greeting people. Perhaps that is why people felt that he was so much theirs and considered him the painter of Puerto Vallarta.

Manuel Lepe died in 1984 at the age of 48 from a brain aneurysm. Today he is the only Mexican naïve painter registered in the directory of painters of France. On April 17, the day of his birth, the day of Manuel Lepe is celebrated, officially established many years ago by the government of Puerto Vallarta. In addition, a medal that bears his name is awarded to the artists decorated for their career and artistic contribution to the region.

April, the birth of Manuel Lepe

To commemorate the centennial of Puerto Vallarta, a postage stamp was made of the work of Manuel Lepe as the great artist of Puerto Vallarta. On April 17th we celebrate the birth of Manuel Lepe, for the great legacy he left the city with his art, which has honored him by baptizing a street with his name.

Currently thousands of people take their souvenir photo in the letters of Puerto Vallarta that have the art of Manuel Lepe and that are found on the Puerto Vallarta boardwalk.

More information at: www.manuellepe.com. Facebook: Manuel Lepe

Claudio Fabian Guevara

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