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Jade Leyva

visual artist

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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 the years 2017, 2019, 2022, 2024 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

2024 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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