James Andrew, an architect and artist living in San Juan Cosalá for the past eight years, brings a cross-cultural depth to his art, informed by his extensive design work across the globe on projects from resorts to orphanages.
Drawing inspiration from local construction techniques and artisans, Andrew creates art using found or salvaged materials, a practice rooted in nearly 40 years of working with metal.
Andrew’s recent works are large, graphic portraits, often closely cropped to highlight striking details of the human face.
“The art has everything to do with composition,” he says. “They’re abstracted human faces presented in a way that people can relate to on a psychological level.”
Sourcing materials—oxidized sheet metal panels from salvage yards and scrap collectors—is an essential, time-consuming part of his process. Known to flag down salvage trucks on the highway, he gathers metal with rough edges, natural rust, and rugged textures, allowing each piece’s unique contours to guide his creative process intuitively.
His primary medium is pastel, which he “smushes” into the metal’s gritty surfaces, creating a distinct effect suited for both indoor and outdoor display.
Though primarily working in black and white, some pieces are enhanced with pen, acrylics and graphic details, resulting in unique, mixed-media works.
Meet James Andrew and view his collection at the opening of his exhibition on Friday, November 8, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Casa del Sol Inn, Javier Mina 7, Ajijic.