Enrique Gerardo Galdos-Rivas, born 1933 in Lima, Peru, is a prominent Peruvian artist celebrated for his vivid and captivating paintings that intricately weave together elements of Peruvian culture, history, and mythology. Galdos-Rivas was surrounded by the vibrant colors, rich textures, and diverse traditions of his homeland from a young age, which would influence his artistic vision upon graduating from the National Academy of Fine Arts in 1959. After graduating with honors, Rivas’s renown in South America grew exponentially, receiving scholarships to travel and work in Brazil in 1961 and Argentina in 1967. By the end of the first decade of his career, Rivas had exhibited at numerous Biennials, from Sao Paulo to Paris.
One of the defining characteristics of Galdos-Rivas’s art is his unique ability to blend traditional Peruvian motifs and symbolism with Modernist artistic techniques. Drawing inspiration from indigenous cultures, colonial history, and modern society, his paintings often feature a striking juxtaposition of ancient iconography with abstraction. Rivas’ use of wild and vivid colors earned him the nickname “The Magician of Color.” Rivas has been noted as a progenitor of the genre of painting known as “Ancestralism,” where cultural iconographies are processed through Modern or Abstract Expressionist sensibilities. In explaining his artistic process, Rivas says:
“A long time ago I painted the huacos of the Nazca culture. First I made them as they are, then I abstracted them. Little by little I was losing the figure, the shape of the huaco, until there was no trace of it, only the color.” (El Comercio, May 20, 2023)
Galdos-Rivas has gained recognition both domestically and internationally for his exceptional talent and contributions to the art world. His awards include the Meritorious Personality of Culture from the Ministry of Culture of Peru and the Diploma of Recognition granted by the Congress of the Republic of Peru, an Honorable Mention at the Sao Paulo Biennial, Brazil in 1965 and the V Prize II at the Cordova Biennial in Argentina in 1964, among others. His works have been featured in numerous exhibitions, galleries, and museums worldwide.
