Folk art with a twist in ‘Grandes Maestros’ at Natural History Museum

“These are living, breathing artists making extraordinary works of art by taking tradition in new directions,” said Karen Wise, vice president of education and exhibits at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, where the history in question is not so much the past as it is the present.

The forthcoming exhibition “Grandes Maestros: Great Masters of Iberoamerican Folk Art” will feature only the work of contemporary artists. More than 800 objects from 22 Latin American countries will be on display, previewing to members starting Nov. 7 and opening to the public Nov. 9.

The stunningly colorful show is curated by Cándida Fernández de Calderón, director of Fomento Cultural Banamex, a nonprofit cultural development organization that has been working with traditional artists in Mexico since 1971. In the last decade, the group has expanded its reach to all of Latin America.

“This body of work stems from 500 years of history and more — European and Moorish tradition, pre-Columbian tradition, Spanish and Portuguese traditions, all woven together,” Wise said. “It’s a sort of creative hybridization.”

The work on display — developed over more than seven years — includes sculptures, textiles, clothing, masks, furniture and jewelry. A Latin American festival featuring music, food and arts and crafts will be held on the official opening day of the exhibit, which runs through Labor Day.

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