Who is Modesto Rivera Lemus?

Modesto Rivera Lemus is an indigenous Huichol of Nayarit. A painter and Huichol artist for 20 years, he has shared in a very special way the stories and history of his culture through paintings made of yarn and bee’s wax.

In order to create his paintings, Mr. Modesto Rivera begins with a rigid wooden board made of pine. First, he spreads the bee’s wax and pine resin to cover the wood. Then he draws his designs. Lastly, he fills his detailed design by applying colored yarn.

In the Huichol Culture, everything has meaning, from the creatures that live on Earth to their colors; every piece of art tells a story through the ancient language of symbols.

Without written language, the Huichol express through their art the stories that give guidance and strength to the Huichol Nation.
Modesto has been recognized in his community for the preservation and study of their traditions and cultural heritage.
Modesto Rivera Lemus follows the ways of Huichol tradition through the Yw’rata community, located near Tepic, Nayarit, where his father, the Mara’akame (shaman), Eustolio Rivera de la Cruz, lives.
Hunting and Cultivating the Land.

“El arte para los Huicholes se aprende cuando se escucha el corazón.”

“For the Huichol People, art is learned when one listens to the heart.”

Because of this, art for the Huichol is what the heart expresses and only by the realization of this method is Huichol art created.
Modesto Rivera Lemus

He contributed the narrative of the book “Watakame’s Journey”, Clear Lights Publishers, 2001, Santa Fe New Mexico.

He illustrated and provided the narrative of the book “When animals were people/Cuando los animales eran personas,” Clear Lights Publishers, 2003, Santa Fe New Mexico.

He is a member of the community council for the dam in Agua Milpa.
He is ex-president and founder of the fishing cooperative in Agua Milpa.

Exhibitions of Huichol Art
2002
International Folk Art Museum, Santa Fe, New Mexico
El Museo Cultural, Santa Fe, New Mexico
.
Hispanic Cultural Center, Alburquerque, New Mexico.
Santa Fe Public Schools, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
2003

He participated in the XVII Interational Book Fair in Guadalajara
2004
Sacramento Public Libraries, Sacramento, California
San Francisco Public Libraries, Mission Branch, San Francisco, California
San José Public Libraries, San Jose, California
Santa Clara Public Libraries, Gilroy, California
Mount Madona,Watsonville, California
2005
Exhibition of Huichol Art at the Latino Arts Inc. Gallery, Milwaukee,Winsconsin

Invited Artist at the “Manos Abiertas Program” of the Universidad Iberoamericana in México City and presenter of the book “When animals were people/Cuando los animales eran personas,” Clear Lights Publishers, 2003, Santa Fe New Mexico.
2007

The collection of 9 works of Grandfather Fire