Einar de la Torre & Jamex de la Torre
USA Kaplan Fellows (San Diego, CA)
Crafts & Traditional Arts
Einar and Jamex de la Torre are brothers originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, they have been collaborating in earnest since the mid-nineties. They work together to develop their signature style mix media work with blown glass sculpture. Their pieces represent a multifaceted view of life that reflects a complex and humorous aesthetic that could be called baroque. Their approach is additive, constantly layering material and meaning. Their influences range from Catholic iconography to German expressionism and pay homage to Mexican vernacular art as well as pre-Columbian objects and images. Many of their pieces address issues of the border region as they live and work on both sides, as well as aspects of human sacrifice. In recent years, they have been experimenting with lenticular printing, creating photomural installations alongside blown glass. They have won the San Diego Foundation Grant Award, The San Diego Art Prize, the Louis Comfort Tiffany Award and the Joan Mitchell Foundation Award. They have had 15 solo museum exhibitions including the National Glass Centre Museum in England, the Glazhuiz in Belgium, the Mesa Arts Center Museum, and the Chrysler Museum of Art.
