Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity are honored to spotlight artist Lalo Garcia on this year’s Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Someone who continues to give his life to her intercession, Lalo comments on his devotion and his current work of creating sacred and fine arts. He also shares some precious paintings for the feast. You will want to check his website for more beautiful images.
About Lalo Garcia 
Born in La Cieneguita, a small rancho in the state of Michoacan, Mexico, and raised since the age of 13 in the San Fernando Valley, north of downtown Los Angeles, celebrated artist Lalo Garcia has spent 35 years immersed in the world of art.
Garcia’s love for his native culture combined with his faith and commitment to preserving the folklore of Mexico are reflected in his unique compositions. Garcia’s work has been permanently placed in sacred spaces throughout Los Angeles and the United States. Currently, Garcia is one of eleven commissioned artists selected by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to create artwork for the Los Angeles Cathedral of the Angels, a major historic landmark.
In addition to the downtown Cathedral, Garcia’s sacred art has been placed at Saint Bernardine of Siena in Woodland Hills CA, St. Helen’s Church in South Gate CA; at Our Lady of Peace in North Hills CA; and at St. Jane de Chantal in North Hollywood, CA.
His personal art pieces have been exhibited in galleries and museums throughout the United States, Mexico, and Spain. Lalo has been the featured artist at the Casa de la Cultura in Las Cruces, New Mexico; Casa de la Cultura in Fresno, CA; and most recently at the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Religious Education Congress in Anaheim CA. Traveling juried exhibits include CIVA’s (Christians in the Visual Arts) Highly Favored Contemporary Images of the Virgin Mary, and SEEDS Fine Art Exhibits, “Dawn to Dawn” and “Succou-The Gift of Support and Solace.”
Comments from Lalo today
One of the things that are no longer on my bio. are the 20 yrs. I spent as a dancer/choreographer in mexican dance. Aztec dances were a big part of the repertoire in my company, and as such, that’s how I fell in love with Our Lady of Guadalupe when I created a suite for the 1984 Olympic Games here in LA. and thats how my devotion to her started, and now as an artist I continued to nurture my faith. That photo was taken in east LA in 1985, the child is my son Lalo Jr.
On the contemporary image of Our Lady, (Cihualpilli Tonantzin which means Noble Little Indian, Our Mother) I depicted her surrounded by Aztec angels playing indigenous instruments, how I think she was welcomed at Tepeyac Hill by her people.
The other one, is a painting I did for Holy Family Catholic church in South Pasadena, and it depicts the sixth apparition, St. Juan Diego reviling our Lady to Archbishop Juan de Zumarraga, and for the world to see.
I’m finishing up full size drawings for another shrine to our Lady of Guadalupe to be installed sometime next year in Woodlake WA. this will be fabricated in Puebla, Mexico.”
