José Reyes Meza (November 23, 1924 – October 31, 2011) was a Mexican painter, costume and set designer, who helped to found a number of cultural institutions in Mexico.
Reyes Meza began his artistic career principally in theater, although he was an active painter and even bullfighter in his early days.
The artist is a founding member of the Salón de la Plástica Mexicana and his work has been acknowledged by tributes, various awards and an art museum in Nuevo Laredo named after him.
The area is also part of the Huasteca region of Mexico so he grew up on native music such as the huapango, learning to play this music on the guitar, the jarana huasteca and an instrument called the “tres cubano.” On occasions during his childhood, Reyes traveled on a barge with his uncles to sell provisions to local ranchers sent by his grandmother.
He tried t learn his father's trade but did not like it, so he took a job at the age of eleven as a cook's helper at the dining hall at a local oil refinery.
In recognition of his talent, the workers from the payroll department arranged a stipend to allow him to attend the Academy of San Carlos in Mexico City, where Reyes arrived in 1938, at age fourteen.
[1][5] Deciding he needed other studies as well, in 1942 he enrolled in classes with the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, concentrating on topics such as mythology, religion and magic.
With other students at the Instituto such as Xavier Rojas, he founded the Teatro Estudiantil Autónoma, remaining very active with this theater project which led to an award for best set design in 1957.
[4] Reyes Meza's career began in the theater while still a student, spanning over twenty-five years, although he also continued to paint and fight bulls.
In 1958, Reyes Meza made his name as a painter after three shows at the Galería de Arte Mexicano in Mexico City in 1950.
[1][3][5] Reyes Meza was involved in the formation of a number of organizations related to art and culture in Mexico, starting as a founding member of the Salón de la Plástica Mexicana in 1949.
[2] This was followed by the José María Luis Mora Award from the State of Mexico in 1989, and a tribute by the Casino de la Selva in Cuernavaca the same year.
In 1991 he received the Cecilio A. Robelo Award for his career, followed in 1993 with the Presea Estatal de Cultura prize from the state of Tamaulipas.
[1] He spent a good part of his career working on murals, which show his aptitude for mathematics, used to create harmony in his compositions.