Atención: Art Talks. Leonardo Diaz, A Rebel With A Cause

By Pascual Hijuelos

The art world is made up of many isms. The most recent is Metamodernism, a movement that describes how contemporary culture, art, and ideas have evolved after postmodernism. In simple terms, Metamodernism reflects how many people today live and think: moving between belief and doubt, seriousness and humor, without needing a single fixed answer. In the arts, these concepts are represented in an eclectic manner, borrowing from historically important movements in art. In today’s world, an increasing number of young, socially motivated artists are committing their talents to issues of both domestic and global significance—subjects that are often dangerous and financially unrewarding. I visited the studio of Leonardo Díaz, a young Mexican painter of growing repute whose work draws on Surrealism, Expressionism, and Realism to confront the grotesque and probe the darker dimensions of reality. His paintings challenge complacency and stand in deliberate opposition to the banal.

Leonardo, could you tell us a little about yourself. My parents dreamed of becoming artists, though that aspiration remained unfulfilled. Growing up, they surrounded me with books of every kind—especially art books. They  consistently encouraged me to cultivate my creativity. However, as a student, I was often challenging. My mind gravitated toward creativity and a strong desire for freedom of expression. Even in high school art classes, I struggled with rigid instructions, preferring to draw and paint on my own terms.

Did you major in art while in school? No, I am largely self-taught, though not entirely.  Between 2006 and 2008, in Cholula, Puebla, I studied oil painting techniques under accomplished masters such as Alberto Ibáñez (RIP) and Juan Carlos Castillo. In this discipline, learning is ongoing, and for that reason, I regularly seek guidance from fellow artists whose work and judgment I trust and admire.

Which artists have influenced you, besides Bacon, Bosch, and Dalí? I greatly admire the work of contemporary painters like Neo Rauch, Justin Mortimer, Michael Armitage, Marlene Dumas, Wangechi Mutu… I believe that painting is currently experiencing a renewed vitality, reaching remarkable heights despite the presence of galleries that prioritize decorative art or promote brand-name artists whose work functions primarily as a vehicle for financial speculation rather than artistic exploration.

How long have you been painting? I reckon a little over 20 years of which sixteen years have been here in San Miguel.

Leonardo, what compels you toward grotesque images and disturbing scenes in your paintings? When I push the boundaries of the figure, the results are often strange, grotesque. I'm very drawn to the confusion and bewilderment generated by the images and scenes I create with my pieces. Painting isn't just decoration, is a doorway to unlock realities. The unknown is unsettling.

You have an interesting way of blending figures and objects. Could you elaborate? I like to explore the possibilities of figures and objects, transforming them to the point where there's a very thin line between familiar form and abstraction. It's a kind of self-imposed challenge to bend the rules of form and create a sense of confusion in the viewer's perception of reality.

How do you see yourself as an artist in relation to the global situation? This is a complex question that I approach from social and cultural perspectives. In an era of profound uncertainty for both artists and non-artists alike, the artistic community bears a clear responsibility: to amplify today's pressing issues—injustices, discrimination, unchecked capitalism, and beyond. We must move beyond individualism, fostering dialogue to forge collective solutions through art itself. By uniting our voices, we can transform cultural expression into a force for tangible change, bridging divides and inspiring action in uncertain times.

Ultimately what do you try to convey with your work and how do you see your work evolving in the future? A glimpse into another reality—one that embodies freedom and invites us to see beyond the commonplace, beyond habitual and trivial thinking. It seeks to awaken awareness that, as artists, we possess the power to reshape perception and transform social, political, economic, and cultural realities. In this Spirit, I want to continue exploring more aesthetic and conceptual possibilities. I hope to keep experiencing this great freedom, and contribute to making art accessible to everyone, everywhere, and not just enjoyed by a small and privileged segment of the population.

Thank you, Leonardo

IG: leonardo_diaz_estudiomx