Arturo García Bustos
Mexico City
(1926 – 2017)
Arturo García Bustos was a Mexican painter and printmaker born on August 8, 1926, in Mexico City. His artistic life was marked by his close relationship with prominent artists of his time, such as Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and other influential members of the Mexican muralist movement.
In 1941, he entered the Academy of San Carlos and later La Esmeralda, where he had the opportunity to study directly under prominent figures like Agustín Lazo, Feliciano Peña, Diego Rivera, and, of course, Frida Kahlo. During this time, he also pursued studies in architecture at UNAM, demonstrating his passion for visual arts and construction.
It's worth noting that Arturo García Bustos is known for being one of the "Fridos," a group of four young artists who studied under the guidance of Frida Kahlo for over a decade. Alongside Guillermo Monroy, Arturo Estrada, and Fanny Rabel, he contributed to the legacy of Mexican muralism.
His involvement in the Association of Young Revolutionary Artists and his entry into the Taller de Gráfica Popular in 1945 marked his commitment to the artistic and political expression of his era. Throughout his career, he received numerous awards, beginning in 1947 with the Niños Héroes Contest.
In 1949, he married the painter Rina Lazo, with whom he remained married for 60 years until his death. They had a daughter, Rina García Lazo.
Arturo García Bustos lived in Guatemala between 1953 and 1954, and in 1959, he worked in Cuba, documenting the political process of that era on the island. Among his most notable works is the mural at the Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, which he completed in 1946, and the Casa del Obrero Mundial in 1970.
García Bustos and his wife Rina lived in a beautiful house in Coyoacán, where they operated the "Casa Colorada" Gallery along with their daughter. Maestro Arturo passed away on April 7, 2017, in Mexico City, leaving a significant impact on the Mexican art world and being remembered as a talented painter and printmaker who was part of a unique generation of artists