Antonio Arellanes

Antonio Arellanes

Painter Antonio Arellanes passed away on Sunday morning, October 19, in Santa Fe, New Mexico from lymphatic cancer. He was in his mid-50s. He has left us at the height of a stellar career, and a life and art that touched many people.

Antonio lived in Laguna Beach during the 1980s, where he exhibed in the Festival of Arts. In 1986, Diane Nelson Gallery gave him his first US solo show at her gallery here, and followed with several successful exhibitions through the years. Later Antonio opened his own gallery, TimeSpace, on North Coast Highway. His last last exhibition in Laguna was at the Marion Meyer Gallery in 2006.

Antonio had made his home in Taos, New Mexico since about 1990, and divided his time between there and his second home in Kauai, Hawaii. His gallery connection in Santa Fe is the McDaniel Collection. Art critic John Russell wrote of Antonio’s visionary artwork, “There is in art a clairvoyance for which we have not yet found a name, and still less an explanation.“

Histories, photos or stories are welcomed for a written tribute. Please email miketauber@sprintmail.com. Antonio’s friends are invited to join together in celebration of his life and his work on the beach at Pearl Street, Saturday, November 1, at 5:00 pm. A reception will follow at the home of Olivia Batchelder.