Rosa Rolanda (1898-1970)

Defined as largely ignored in the history of 20th Mexican art by curator Rafael Coronel Rivera, the present edition rediscovers the oeuvre of multidisciplinary artist "Rosa Rolanda" (b. United States as Rosemonde Cowan Ruelas 1895- d. Mexico 1970.), wife of Miguel Covarrubias and an important personage in the history of Mexican art. Rosa "Rolanda" Covarrubias developed during the first half of the 20th century her own creative production in the fields of design, choreography, painting and photography. Despite being an important participant of the art and cultural circles of Mexico, who was friend of Diego Rivera (who painted her portrait) and Frida Kahlo, actresses Dolores del Ro and Mara Félix (she painted their portraits), and a model for painter Roberto Montenegro and photographers Tina Modotti and Edward Weston, who were her teachers, her artistic and cultural legacy has largely been overlooked in Mexican art historiography. "Rosa Rolanda is one of many female artists, sensible, talented, whose life and trajectory have been kept hidden, unknown, without any major recognition, except for the one given by specialists. The presence of this woman of multiple talents and origins, with Scottish ancestry on her father's side and Mexican ancestry on her mother's side, born in California deserves our full attention. This exhibition opens the way to pay a debt with a woman whose presence enriched the Mexican 20th century."(Our translation)--P. 7.