Efren Ordoñez (August 20, 1927 – August 21, 2011) was a

Mexican Mexican may refer to: Mexico and its culture *Being related to, from, or connected to the country of Mexico, in North America ** People *** Mexicans, inhabitants of the country Mexico and their descendants *** Mexica, ancient indigenous people ...

artist who created paintings, sculptures and stained glass. His work often focused on religious themes and he has been called 'the painter of the divine'.

Early life and career

Efren Ordoñez was born in the city of Chihuahua, but moved to

Monterrey Monterrey (, , abbreviated as MtY) is the capital and largest city of the northeastern Mexican state of Nuevo León. It is the ninth-largest city and the second largest metropolitan area, after Greater Mexico City. Located at the foothills of th ...

at the age of two and retained close links with that city for the rest of his life. After attending

Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM; ), also known as Technological Institute of Monterrey () or just Tec, is aresearch university based in Monterrey, Mexico, which has grown to include 35 campuses located across 25 cit ...

, he joined the School of Law and Social Sciences at the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, but switched to architecture. In 1952, he set up his first art studio, also holding his first exhibition for the Third National Missionary Congress. Three years later, he mounted another exhibition of paintings in Arte AC design school, Monterrey. He was also commissioned to create prints, sculptures, murals and stained glass for the Archdiocese of Monterrey in 1955, and this earned him recognition as an artist who could translate religious themes through art.

Later career

Efren Ordoñez's work was exhibited in

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

and also the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

, including exhibitions at the Dreyer Gallery in

Houston Houston ( ) is the List of cities in Texas by population, most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and in the Southern United States. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, it is the county seat, seat of ...

and the

Palacio de Bellas Artes The Palacio de Bellas Artes (Palace of Fine Arts) is a prominent cultural center in Mexico City. It hosts performing arts events, literature events and plastic arts galleries and exhibitions (including important permanent Mexican murals). "Bella ...

Mexico City Mexico City is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Mexico, largest city of Mexico, as well as the List of North American cities by population, most populous city in North America. It is one of the most important cultural and finan ...

. A retrospective of his work was held in 1976 in Monterrey. Ordoñez was awarded the "Presea Estado" (Civic Merit Award) for his art by the government of

Nuevo León Nuevo León, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Nuevo León, is a Administrative divisions of Mexico, state in northeastern Mexico. The state borders the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Coahuila, Zacatecas, and San Luis Potosí, San Luis ...

in 1988. In 2000, his work was included in '100 Years performed by 100 Artists, Visual Arts in Nuevo Leon'.

Notable works

His portfolio includes more than 60 public, secular and religious artworks. Among the most iconic are his stained glass windows.

References

External sources

Examples of Ordoñez's stained glass
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ordonez, Efren Mexican artists People from Monterrey 1927 births 2011 deaths Religious artists