Insiders’ Emerging Artists at Galeria Potranca: Art for Today

By Iven Kelley-Dobson

For 2025 at Galeria Potranca we have created a second event, Second Weekend.  On February 14th and 15th Second Weekend joins Final Friday on February 28th and March 1st, both from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with wine & cheese receptions and the following Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. In February we will be introducing eight new artists and their work.  Eight artists will be returning, introducing new work.

Among our artists this month you will meet:

Javier: Javier González Hernández is from Valle de Santiago, Guanajuato and has called San Miguel de Allende home for over a decade.  Javier is a self-taught artist whose work reflects his deep connection with the traditions and nature of Mexico. His work in textiles is inspired by Mexico's rich flora & fauna and pre-Hispanic cultures, which you will see as a recurring theme. Javier has exhibited his work both in various regions of Mexico and abroad, and now San Miguel.  His work on clothing is colorful, imaginative, creative… truly art for today!

Santiago: Santiago Espinoza Luna was born in the magical town of Real de Catorce in San Luis Potosí. He has lived in San Miguel for over 15 years.  Since his youth in the mountains of San Luis Potosí he started creating art he was self-taught.  He later continued his artistic  development studying throughout Mexico. Santiago has developed his own techniques for his work in acrylic.  His work will give you a celestial, cosmic feeling.

Yohanan: Yohanan Meshoulam Kurpites is from Cuernavaca and possesses a lifelong interest in understanding world culture and the interaction with local culture, creating diversity. His colorful illustrative work reflects the correlation of ancestral and contemporary cultures, searching for the mystique. He has had more than 10 individual and 50 group exhibitions throughout Mexico.  The state of Morelos is assembling a retrospective of his work at MMAC (Morelense Museum of Contemporary Art). His work is fresh and contemporary.

Olivia: Olivia Destandau journeyed to Mineral de Pozos from California several years ago and continues to be in love with Mexico.  Discovering photography over 30 years ago, she finds joy and exultation of viewing nature, architecture, and people through the lens. And you will feel her joy and exultation in her photography.  Olivia has exhibited her work in Oakland, California, Mineral de Pozos and now Galeria Potranca.

A special happening on February 14th at 5:30 p.m. will be a fashion show by our neighbor, Shaktany Boutique.  The runway show will feature hand-selected clothing in silk, linen, and cotton.  It promises to be an evening of fashion, art, and elegance!

Approximately 70% of the artists represented at Galeria Potranca are Mexican artists, most of whom have never shown their work to the public before.  Many of the artists could be considered “outsider artists” in that they have not had formal art training but their talent and creativity are natural and readily apparent, while others have had studied art and techniques (some having art degrees).  Our goal at Galeria Potranca is to give artists a platform to show their work and meet the public.  This gives them the opportunity to receive feedback and encouragement from the public.

Now you have two opportunities to view new art and meet the artists.  Come and enjoy wine & cheese at both events every second and final Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and the following Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Galeria Potranca is guided by Iven Kelley-Dobson who brings a lifelong career as an entrepreneur in the creative fields of floral, art, and interior design.  With his husband, Jim, he has called San Miguel home since 2011.  His work in Galeria Potranca is called FACES, mixed media sculptures created from found objects.

Galeria Potranca

Potranca 4, Guadiana

415 117 2923