Born in march of 1973, Antonio Pelayo is unquestionably the product of two rich and diverse cultures. Heavily influenced by formative years spent in Mexico, "The land of myth and legend", along with the pragmatism of his American birthplace California, Antonio returned home with an outsider's unpretentious clarity of both worlds.At the age of 9, he was sent back to his father's village, "El Palmar de los Pelayo" in the rural countryside of Mexico. once there, he was raised in an overly restrictive catholic environment. (ironically, Antonio, his mother and sisters were all devout Jehovah's witnesses.)Moreover, his Spanish was so limited that he was shunned by peers, and ostracized by the community. Is it any wonder that Antonio turned inward to find solace during these difficult, lonely times? It was during one of these times that he first learned that god had not forsaken him. He had been given a gift; one that enabled him to create his own universe of beauty, acceptance and love.Nearly every waking moment was spent with pencil in hand, and his natural ability blossomed into a startling, unmistakable artistry. Almost self-consciously, he confesses that his early influences came from "strange" places. sometimes he would sneak into the catholic church, sit quietly then simply marvel at the frescos of jesus' suffering. martyrdom bore an odd fascination for him as a youth. However, after morning mass antonio would spend long afternoons sketching from the church's now-darkened corners, copying the artwork lining the walls.This preoccupation ultimately led to his being captivated by Frida Kahlo; Mexican muralist, Diego Rivera; Siquieros; and Orozco. He was enthralled by the humanistic side of their artistry - it struck a deep chord in the impressionable Antonio. during this time, he was also making great strides mastering Spanish. however, quite paradoxically, although he could speak the language, he still could not "communicate" with the people of his village. it seems he would forever play the role of the "outsider".Years later when Antonio, his mother and sisters returned to the states, he remembers not being able to shake off felling like the proverbial, "man without a country". he did not consider himself an American, not had he ever fully embraced his Mexican roots. Once again he was forced to acclimate to another world -- a foreign land that he only vaguely remembered.The one unfailing constant was his art, and thankfully he did have that. moreover, in America opportunities to study different artistic influences were readily available, and he was inspired by many: the mesmerizing works of Frank Frazetta, the technical expertise of Boris Vallejo, and the surreal biomorphic talent of h.r. giger. these giants of contemporary art, along with hi love of Mexican muralists had the greatest impact.Completely self-taught, he confesses feeling the strongest connection when doing a portrait. "I've tried landscapes, fantasy scenes... but what really captures me is when I work on a portrait of someone I know or truly admire."He adds passionately, "There is an intimacy between the subject and the artist -- an honesty that is reciprocal... and all the while, the subject must leave himself open and vulnerable to my interpretation. To me this is trust at its most divine."Forever the outsider, Antonio is never truly at home until he creates his safe haven in art; and gratefully, we can all have him through that.

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