Lupe Rodriguez (1953-2008)
Bio
Lupe Rodriguez was born in La Linea, Spain. She moved to Canada as a young child. She graduated with an honours Bachelor of Fine Arts from York University. During her life she exhibited widely in private and public galleries in Canada, the United States, Mexico and Spain.
In 2009, after her death, the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art in Toronto had a special exhibition entitled Radiant Passion as a tribute to her work and her life. The MOCCA notes to Radiant Passion say:
As artist, educator, arts reporter, world traveller, cultural celebrity and serious aficionado of historical and contemporary art, Lupe Rodriguez shared her extraordinary passion and remarkable insights with thousands of people in Toronto, the GTA, across Canada and around the world. Her vivacious personality and love of art and life was infectious. Many of those who have known her have remarked that her exuberant and colourful artwork directly reflected the radiance and passion of her character.
While we never met Lupe in her life, through her art we feel that we have gotten to know her and that this is an apt description of a truly Renaissance woman. After we discovered Lupe’s work in 2013 we purchased a total of four of her paintings. In January 2014 Jeff had the privilege to spend one of the great afternoons of his life at the home of Lupe’s husband Danny Cushing with Danny and their son Sebastian. Over a couple of hours Danny and Sebastian shared remembrances of Lupe whilst looking at paintings and works on paper spanning her life as an artist and their life as a truly remarkable family. Luna Andaluz and Sierra Roja were purchased that day and form an invaluable part of our collection.
Museum of Contemporary Art Profile
Works of Art
Artwork Information
Luna Andaluz 1983
Goache and Pastel on Japanese Rice Paper
23.5 x 32.5 in (59.5 x 82.5 cm)
Provenance: Purchased from the Estate of the Artist.
Piedra Rosada 1989
Acrylic on Canvas
38 x 48 in (96.5 x 121.9 cm)
Provenance: Heffel, Private Collector, Leo Kamen Gallery, Toronto
Sierra Roja, 1988
Acrylic on Board
30 x 35 in (76 x 90 cm)
Provenance: Purchase from the Artist’s Estate
Untitled
Mixed Media on Handmade Paper
23.5 x 32 in (59.7 x 81.3 cm)
Provenance: Waddingtons, Private Collector
Untitled
Watercolor and Pastels on Paper
23.25 x 31.25 in (59 x 80.6 cm)