Efrén Ordóñez, “the painter of the divine”, dies at 84 leaving behind his legacy for future generations

MEXICO CITY.- With a legacy of paintings, sculptures and stained glass, focusing on the religious sphere, the general director of National Institute of Fine Arts (INBA), Teresa Vicencio Alvarez, highlighted the life and work of artist Efrén Ordóñez, who died on 21 August.

In a statement, the INBA recalled the career of this artist, who left most of his work at the Seminary of Monterrey and the Institute itself. This last preservation of collection of works include: “Yesterday and Tomorrow ‘(1992),’ Red Gray Space ‘(1968),” Red Bridge “(1968),’ Ghost ‘(S / F) and’ Painting ‘(S / F).

“In Mexico we are blessed with outstanding artists whose creation to future generations inherit a legacy and a source of inspiration that allow the strengthening of artistic and humanistic values​​, the result of a lifetime of effort and dedication, this was the case of Efrén Ordóñez,” said Teresa Vicencio.

With regards to his death, the official said: ‘We lost a great artist who made a footprint in the history of art in our country, and distinguished us with a lifetime of work devoted to his trade ‘.

This artist was born on August 20, 1927 in the city of Chihuahua, but lived in Monterrey since he was two years old, a place that inspired him, which inspired his work and where he always returned to show his art.

He attended his early schooling (elementary and junior high) at the Franco Mexicano School of the Maristas. He also started high school at the same place, finishing at the Tecnologico Institution y de Estudios Superiores in Monterrey.

He joined the School of Law and Social Sciences at the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, but after a few months he preferred his architectural career, and in the early 1950s graduated in that profession and then set up his own office.

Since his childhood he would ventured into painting, which was what he liked to do. Thus, in October 1952, he mounted his first exhibition in the Rayon building, for the Third Missionary Congress in the city of Monterrey.

The theme of the exhibition was ‘missionary encyclical of Pope Pius XII, Evangelli praecones’ and made the sculpture “Mary Queen of the Missions.”

By 1955, Efrén Ordóñez mounted another exhibition of paintings in Arte, AC, Monterrey.

Ordóñez was able to conceive religious and aesthetic creations. An example is the Archdiocesan Seminary of Monterrey where he made ​​prints, sculptures, paintings, murals and stained glass, commissioned by Archbishop Alfonso Espino y Silva, in 1955.

This earned him recognition as an artist who contributed to the development of visual literacy of a religious school and church, having presence in various parishes in the country.

He was awarded by the government of Nuevo León the “Presea Estado de Nuevo Leon” for his artistic work in 1988. Afterwards a ceremony was held for the presentation of the book “Contemporary Mexican painter Efren Ordóñez ‘in the History Museum of Nuevo Leon.

By the year 2000, the exhibition ’100 Years performed by 100 Artists, Visual Arts in Nuevo Leon’ was held, where it was included.

Among his iconic works include colorful stained glass windows of St. Thomas Aquinas, The Disciples of Emmaus and Christ the King Seminary in Monterrey and the Mountains in the Government Palace in this state.

After health problems those afflicted him in recent years, on Sunday morning August 21, Efrén Ordóñez, the “Painter of the divine,” died at the age of 84 years in his adopted city.