Get to Know: Gustavo Rimada

In anticipation of our first ever release with renowned artist Gustavo Rimada, we sat down with him to learn about his life and and his art.  Take a look at the exciting interview below:

Where were you born and where are you now?

I was born in Torreón Coahuila, Mexico.  I currently live in Palm Springs, California. I grew up about 30 minutes from here in Indio, California after migrating from Mexico to the US when I was 7 yrs old.

What are your first artistic memories? 

My first memories were of being in Mexico at school drawing animals and cartoon characters for kids in my class and of course getting in trouble for not paying attention and always drawing while in school.

How has your style evolved from over the years to now?  

My heritage and culture have always been the motivation behind my Art. My love for nature and my culture have evolved together through the years.

Have you always dealt with the same themes? 

My culture and heritage have always played a prominent role, it’s who I am. I love its beauty and darker side.

Could you tell us a bit about your work and this week's release with us, "Alebrije Rojo?" 

My work is a reflection of my Mexican roots, its culture, stories and all that makes it beautiful. The Alebrije are spirit guides in the afterlife and I wanted to explore this theme by using an iconic image: The Mobil Pegasus.  But switching the horse to a dog, the Xoloitzcuintli, also known as the xolo.  The idea was that much like gasoline today, in the afterlife the Alebrije will power us up and guide us through the next life. 

What is a normal day like in the studio for you? 

Wake up - go get coffee, head back to my studio/home, work for a few hours on and off.  Then around 10pm, when my family starts heading to bed, I usually work non stop until about 5am while watching movies and docs I like.

What is the hardest part of creating a work? 

The hardest part is staying consistent while trying not to become repetitive. For me, finding the time to experiment with mediums or techniques is extremely rare even though I love to have more time to do those things.

And what is the most rewarding part? 

Well, there are many.  But, being able to do what you love for a living is very rewarding, or not having a boss - if you’re like me who has worked many jobs - is major.  But the most rewarding part of me being a husband and father, is being able to provide for my family with something I can’t live without: which is my art.

When you're not working in the studio, what are you up to? 

Well that’s rare, but recently I just went to Mexico City for a couple of weeks. It was a beautiful and incredibly inspiring trip. But when I am not in the studio I am usually hanging out with my family or attending art shows.

What can we look forward to from you in 2023? 

For early 2023 I am focusing on some commission work but I am taking a break from a lot of group exhibits to focus on two solo shows:  One in early 2024 at Thinkspace Gallery in Los Angeles and the other in summer 2024 in Australia at Beinart gallery.  Thank you.

"Alebrije Rojo" will be available beginning Thursday, November 16th at 1PM PST in our shop.