LOS ANGELES, CA.- On Thursday, December 7th, 2023, at 12:00pm PST, John Moran Auctioneers invites you experience work from some of the most influential artists of the 20th century presented in their Latin American Art + Design auction. This winter sale has over 200 lots of art and design, and will offer everything from fine art to Folk Art, candlesticks, pottery, and nearly 100 lots of Mexican silver including tableware and jewelry. Featured artists and designers include Fernando Botero, Alfredo Ramos, Diego Rivera, Felipe Castañeda, Carlos Estevez, Roberto Montenegro, William Spratling, Antonio Pineda, and Fred Davis.

Leading the sale are two extraordinary works by the recently deceased Columbian artist, Fernando Botero (1932-2023). His signature style, also known as “Boterismo”, depicts people and figures in large, exaggerated volume, which can represent political criticism or humor, depending on the piece. Botero was considered the most recognized and quoted artist from Latin America in his lifetime, and his art can be found around the world. Moran’s is pleased to present two of his large-scale watercolors, Couple dancing, 1980, estimated $150,000-200,000, and Nude figure reclining, 2002 with an estimate of $100,000-150,000.

Known as the ‘Father of Mexican Modernism’, Alfredo Ramo Martinez (1871-1946) was a painter, muralist, and educator, best known for his serene and empathetic paintings of traditional Mexican people and scenes. This sale will offer three works by Martinez including “Madonna India”, circa 1932, estimated $60,000-80,000, and “Procession of Nuns,” circa 1934, valued at $16,000-22,000.

There will be multiple lots offering works by prominent Mexican painters Diego Rivera and Rufino Tamayo. Rivera (1886-1857) helped establish the mural movement in Mexican and international art. Rivera’s “Las Banistas de Tehuantepec”, 1925 will be offered at a $25,000-35,000 estimate. In contrast Tamayo (1899-1991) painted figurative abstraction with surrealist influences on a more intimate scale. Estimated $2,500-3,500 is his Mixografia, “Nina”, 1981.

Bronze works will include examples by Mexican sculptors Felipe Castañeda and Luis Ortiz Monasterio. An internationally renowned sculptor, Castañeda (b. 1933) has held exhibits around the world including the U.S., Mexico, and Europe. This sale will offer three of his works including, “Seated woman”, 1994, valued $5,000-7,000. Monasterio (1906-1990) was noted for his monumental works such as the Monumento a la Madre and the Nezahualcoyotl Fountain in Chapultepec Park in Mexico City. At an estimate of $3,000-5,000, Monasterio’s “Mujer con Nino y Alcatraces”, 1950 will make its way to the block.

Collectors are sure to take notice of the large Matl Nuestra Senora de La Asuncion de Tonaya by Matilde Poulat, estimated $6,000-9,000, a Hector Aguilar sterling silver chess set valued at $4,000-6,000, and multiple silver pieces by William Sprating including a 18k gold and ebony necklace with a $4,000-6,000 estimate.

Other noteworthy artists featured will include Gustavo Montoya, Pedro Friedeberg, Carlo Merida, Francisco Toledo, and Sergio Bustamante.