A Bit About Jade Leyva
Award-winning Magical Magical Realism Artist Jade Leyva was born and raised in Mexico City. She has called New Mexico her home since 2006. Her work expresses her love of nature, multiculturalism, unity and environmental consciousness.
Jade has been creating art since she was a young girl in Mexico City with her mother being a visual artist and in her adult years, Jade had a 12 year mentorship with late Artist Bill Freeman. Her influences range from pre-Colombian to post-modern. It is at times whimsical, celebratory and reflective, yet always thought provoking and expressive - a visual “magical realism”. The central themes of her work are love, unity, and our fragile relationship to Mother Earth.
In 2013 she founded an organization called “Seeds: A Collective Voice” to raise awareness and cultivate education regarding ancient seed preservation and the environment through multimedia art exhibits and creating murals with seeds in community.
Most recently, she has been awarded by the annual Santa Fe’s Contemporary Hispanic Market (CHM) with Best in the Oil/Acrylic Painting Category in 2017, 2019 and 2022 and Best of Show in 2021. In 2018 she was selected to create the poster image for CHM. Jade has created artwork for several important events and her work has been featured in books, magazines and on publication covers. She has participated in countless exhibitions at the local, national and international level. Jade’s works are collected by people around the globe.
Experience
1994-1999
Art Gallery Assistant/Manager, Samarkanda, Arte Para Coleccionistas, Mexico City 1994-1999
In her mid teens, Jade began working for the prestigious art gallery Samarkanda: Art For Collectors in Mexico City. The gallery housed works by such legendary artists as Frida Kahlo, David Alfaro Siqueiros, Dr. Atl, Jose Clemente Orozco and Diego Rivera, among many others. The gallery also specialized in antiques, fine Persian rugs and Pre-Hispanic objects. Over her 5 year tenure there, Jade learned volumes about Mexican art and culture and artwork from around the world. She attended many classes at the Museum of Modern Art, such as surrealism workshops and History of early 20th century Mexican art. She coordinated the exhibition space, did book keeping, art cataloging, photographing entire collections, inventorying and much more.
During this period, Jade also spent time traveling around Europe soaking up the art and culture of the continent. Since her childhood she had spent time much time visiting myriad archaeological and cultural sites including those of the Aztec, Toltec, Olmec and Mayan as well as traveling with her mother to small towns within Mexico enjoying close contact with the native people of southern Mexico, such as Zapotec, Mixtec, Mazatec, Maya and Aztec and Huichol in West Mexico.
2001-Present
Ancient Pottery Restorator 2001-Present
Jade moved to Scottsdale, Arizona in 2000, where she started creating art in a professional manner It was there, in March of 2001, that she met renowned painter, pottery maker, and collector Bill Freeman, who invited her to learn how to make pots. This began a long-term friendship and mentoring process. Bill taught her all his pottery making and antiquing techniques as well as ancient pottery restoration. This would prove to be another pivotal influence on her. As she became more and more fascinated with the process, she started to make this activity a major part of her schedule, spending her free time in the studio with Freeman making and restoring pottery.
2006-Present
Self Employed Visual Artist - 2006-Present
Magical Realism Artist Jade Leyva is from Mexico City and she lives in New Mexico since 2006. She has created images for several important events and her work has been featured in many books and publication covers. She has participated in collective exhibitions at the local, national and international levels. Her work is collected by people from across the globe. In 2013 she founded an organization called “Seeds: A Collective Voice” which promotes raising awareness through multimedia arts exhibits and collective projects to educate communities about different environmental subjects.
2013-2016
Collective Art Project Managment 2013-2016
In 2013 Leyva founded an organization called Seeds: A Collective Voice/Community Seed Mural Project which endeavors to raise awareness about ancient seed preservation and to educate environmental sustainability through multimedia art exhibits and also visiting over 100 locations over 3 years, Jade created several murals, entirely with seeds. Thousands of members of the community of New Mexico participated as co-artists. In 2014, Leyva was invited to an International Conference in Chiapas, Mexico to speak about her project and show her artwork. The first ten completed Community Seed Murals came together on display at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, in Albuquerque, NM, in September of 2016. Leyva’s Seeds: A Collective Voice project has involved local, national and international artists from around the world as mural designers. Jade donated most of the murals to public spaces throughout the City of Albuquerque, New Mexico.The project continues to grow with a book, educational program for schools, and a documentary, all under Jade’s direction and guidance.
June 2020-June 2021
October 2023
Art Instructor for pandemic youth online camp program: Acta Non Verba, Oakland, CA
Art Printing Residency Under Maestro Enrique Flores, Oaxaca.
For the month of October 2023, Jade was invited to participate in an art residency to learn print making (lithograph, etching and woodcut) under the tutelage of renowned Oaxacan master Enrique Flores in his print workshop in the town of Huitzo, Oaxaca. She also created 2 seed murals with the community of Huitzo.
Skills
Pottery restoration, acrylic painting, non traditional pottery making, sculpture in clay and paper maché. Artistic photography, silicone art mold making, gallery art curation, some design, pop up art exhibit curation and organizing, sales and marketing.
Past Gallery Representation
Xico Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona.
Tansey Gallery, Tucson, Arizona.
Adelante Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona
Galleries West, Jackson Hole Wyoming
Gathering of Artists, Corrales, New Mexico
Huey Fine Art, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Mill Contemporary on Canyon Road, Santa Fe New Mexico
•As of 2021, Jade is succesfully an indendependent Artist.
Awards
2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2020 Top 5 Best Of The City Artist
Albuquerque The Magazine | Albuquerque, New Mexico
2017 Local Treasures Award
Albuquerque Art Business Association | Albuquerque, New Mexico
2017 Best Oil/Acrylic Painting Category
Contemporary Hispanic Market | Santa Fe, New Mexico
2019 Best Oil/Acrylic Painting Category
Contemporary Hispanic Market | Santa Fe, New Mexico
2021 Best of Show
Contemporary Hispanic Market | Santa Fe, New Mexico
2022 Best Oil/Acrylic Painting Category
Contemporary Hispanic Market | Santa Fe, New Mexico
Exhibits
The below list does not include pop-up shows and group exhibits as an emerging artist between 2004-2009, nor the 105 events for collective art making with Jade's Community Seed Mural Project. 2013-2016. https://jadeleyvart3.wixsite.com/seeds
March 16-April 17, 2024
Group exhibit with Maestros Enrique Flores & Armando Adrián López
Placitas Community Library, Placitas, New Mexico
JULY 29 & 30, 2023
Contemporary Hispanic Market
Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
FEBRUARY 3, 2023
Jade Leyva Feature Exhibit
Ghostwolf Gallery, Old Town Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
November 25-27, 2022
Rio Grande Arts & Crafts Festival
Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
October 2, 2022
Women in the Arts Group Show
National Hispanic Cultural Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
JULY 30, 2022
Contemporary Hispanic Market
Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
OCTOBER 1, 2021
Jade Leyva Feature Exhibit
Ghostwolf Gallery, Old Town Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
JULY 24, 2021
Contemporary Hispanic Market
Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
March-June, 2021
Solo exhibition of works at Farm & Table
Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
NOVEMBER 1, 2020
Virtual Day of the Dead Ofrenda by Jade Leyva for Harbourfront Centre, Toronto
Online event
OCTOBER 9, 2020
Jade Leyva Feature Exhibit
Mill Contemporary, Canyon Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
AUGUST 8 & 9, 2020
Spirit Fest UK, Group online Exhibit and Conference part of European Series Dreams & Divinities
Online event
MARCH 13, 2020
Adelante Gallery Featuring Jade Leyva
Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
NOVEMBER 16, 2019
Dual Language Conference Feature Space for Poster Artist
Albuquerque Convention Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
NOVEMBER 9, 2019
Day of the Dead Ofrenda for Bees-Toronto Art Installation by Jade Leyva
Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, Canada
OCTOBER 19, 2019
Canyon Road Annual Paint-out at Mill Contemporary
Mill Contemporary, Canyon Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
AUGUST 30, 2019
I Have a Soul Exhibit Featuring Jade Leyva’s Work
Mill Contemporary, Canyon Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
JULY 27, 2019
Contemporary Hispanic Market
Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
JULY 28, 2018
Contemporary Hispanic Market
Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
FEBRUARY 23, 2018
Jade Leyva at Fountain Hills Great Fair (ARIZONA)
Fountain Hills, Arizona, USA
JULY 29, 2017
Contemporary Hispanic Market
Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
MAY 12-28, 2017
Mural Viviente Art Installation Collaboration of Jade Leyva & Ruben Olguin
Axle Contemporary Mobile Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
MAY 5, 2017
Sanctuary Group Exhibit at Mill Contemporary
Mill Contemporary Gallery, Canyon Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
NOVEMBER 4, 2016
Women of the World Group Exhibit
Tortuga Gallery, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
SEPTEMBER 9, 2016
SEED MURAL ART INSTALLATION (Display of all the seed murals created by Jade Leyva and the communities in 105 locations throughout New Mexico).
Nartional Hispanic Cultural Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
JULY 30, 2016
Contemporary Hispanic Market
Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
JULY 16, 2016
Group Exhibit: Forms of Life. Curated by Jade Leyva. Collective Exhibit with multiple artists using the pottery molds created by Jade Leyva’s Mentor as their canvas for a multimedia exhibit.
Tortuga Gallery, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
MAY 15, 2016
Placitas Artists Series-May 2016 Jade Leyva Solo art Exhibit
Presbyterian Church, Placitas, New Mexico, USA
MAY 6, 2016
The Ecozoic Era: Plant, Seed, Soil Multimedia Collective Exhibit
New Mexico State Capitol, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
JUNE 27, 2015
NUBES VIAJERAS: Magical Realism By Jade Leyva & Armando Adrian-López
Art Shack, Madrid, New Mexico, USA
MAY 9 & 10, 2015
Placitas Studio Tour
Jade Leyva’s Studio, Placitas, New Mexico, USA
AUGUST 9, 2014
Group Exhibit: ARTitude
Arte de Placitas, Placitas, New Mexico, USA
JUNE 8, 2014
Exhibit Featuring Jade Leyva’s work and her Seed Mural Project
Gathering of Artists, Corrales, New Mexico, USA
MAY 10 & 11, 2014
Placitas Studio Tour
Jade Leyva’s Studio, Placitas, New Mexico, USA
MARCH 13-20, 2014
International Group Exhibit by European Series Dreams & Divinities
Museums & town wide events San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico
FRI, NOV 1, 2013
Day of the Dead Community Ofrenda, History Workshop, Organized and executed by Jade Leyva
Gathering of Artists, Corrales, New Mexico, USA
MAY 4, 2013
Jade Leyva and her husband Tom Frouge Curated SEEDS: Collective Voice Group Multimedia Exhibit featuring works of over 60 local, national and international Artists
Downtown Contemporary Gallery, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
JULY 13, 2012
2 Women Exhibit
Placitas Community Library, New Mexico, USA
JUNE 1, 2012
Group Exhibit. El Arte de Tres Amigas: Earth Dreams
Boro Gallery, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
MAY 12 & 13, 2012
Placitas Studio Tour
Jade Leyva’s Studio, Placitas, New Mexico, USA
MAY 5 & 6, 2012
Corrales Art Studio Tour, Group Exhibit
Gathering of Artists, Corrales, New Mexico, USA
APRIL 6, 2012
Group Exhibit, Albuquerque Fine Wine & Art Festival
Presented by Alibi and Hyatt Hotel, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
APRIL 5, 2012
Group Exhibit. El Arte de Tres Amigas: Separate Realities Together
Red Boot Gallery, Bernalillo, New Mexico, USA
MARCH 16, 2012
Group Exhibit
Gathering of Artists, Corrales, New Mexico, USA
MARCH 9, 2012
Group Exhibit
La Junta Gallery, Bernalillo, New Mexico, USA
DECEMBER 3, 2011
Group Exhibit “Small Art for the Collector”
Gathering of Artists, Corrales,New Mexico, USA
OCTOBER 15, 2011
Exhibit featuring photographs by Jim Holbrook and paintings by Jade Leyva
Gathering of Artists, Corrales,New Mexico, USA
APRIL 1, 2011
Group Exhibit: Living La Vida Organica
105 Art Gallery, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
MARCH 26, 2011
Solo Exhibit Part of Albuquerque’s Women & Creativity.
La Parada, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
AUGUST 15, 2010
Group Exhibit: El Arte de Tres Amigas
Red Boot Gallery, Bernalillo, New Mexico, USA
APRIL 9, 2010
Crush Gala Art Auction
Tucson Museum of Art, Arizona, USA
JANUARY-MARCH 2010
Celebration of Fine Art
Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
SEPTEMBER 25 & 26, 2009
¡Globalquerque! Poster Artist and Feature Exhibit
National Hispanic Cultural Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
AUGUST, 2009
Exhibit Featuring Jade Leyva
Rockin’ Art Gallery, Placitas, New Mexico, USA
Artist Statement
“I believe that art prevails and that an artist has a deep responsibility to future generations as art is a powerful tool to express what goes on in the world and also art can help positively change communities. When I look at the world around me, I feel inspired and love for our planet, an innate connection to nature.
I always reach out to embrace other cultures and people, while staying connected to the deep roots in my strong and beautiful culture of Mexico which is where I come from. It is from this passion for the world around me that I am able to create, to express myself through the bold colors of my homeland, the universality of love and my enthusiastic hope for peace. In this way I hope to share the joy of my positive journey through life with you and humbly offer this small grain of creativity with the hope of putting a smile in your soul through vibrant colors and visual metaphors.”
“I believe that art prevails and that an artist has a deep responsibility to future generations as art is a powerful tool to express what goes on in the world and also art can help positively change communities. When I look at the world around me, I feel inspired and love for our planet, an innate connection to nature.
I always reach out to embrace other cultures and people, while staying connected to the deep roots in my strong and beautiful culture of Mexico which is where I come from. It is from this passion for the world around me that I am able to create, to express myself through the bold colors of my homeland, the universality of love and my enthusiastic hope for peace. In this way I hope to share the joy of my positive journey through life with you and humbly offer this small grain of creativity with the hope of putting a smile in your soul through vibrant colors and visual metaphors.”
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