Ernesto Zepeda was born in Hounduras in Central America in 1943. He studied sculpture at the School of Fine Arts under the direction of Mario Zamora, a prominent Mexican sculptor. The bold modeling and energetic brushwork in Zepeda's paintings reflect this early influence of sculpture. After a number of years, he was called to serve in the Presidential Guard. When the government ended in a coup d'etat, he joined the Merchant Marine, working in the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas from 1962 until 1966.

In 1967 Ernesto acquired Permanent Residency status in the United States. He was commissioned to do sculptures for Orlandi Statuary of Chicago. During this time Ernesto decided to develop himself as a serious painter and enrolled in the Chicago Art Institute. Later he continued his studies with Alexander Chidichimo, Director of the Alexander School of Painting.

Throughout the summers of 1974 and 1975 Ernesto participated in the Gold Coast Festival in Chicago and in shows traveling to ten major art capitals. In 1976 he moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, exhibiting his works in the Southwest Artists Group. In June of 1978, he opened a One Man show in Santa Fe. Zepeda met, Buck Burshears, upon returning from a trip to Canada in 1979. "...I remember Mrs. Baker from the Anasazi Art Gallery in Espanola telling me about a very charismatic man who bought up a lot of my work. So I wrote this Buck a letter and asked him if he would be interested in more paintings." Soon after, Zepeda said, he received a call from Buck Burshears and from that point on, they formed a life-long friendship.

Zepeda appreciated his friendship with Burshears, not only for the pieces he purchased and the person he was, but because ow what he did for zepeda as an artist. "Nobody has done this to me like Buck. He was a guide about taste. He always said, 'Ernesto, your work is so honest. You don't stereotype that Native people, you make them individuals.' That really made me realize that my work had an impact and was important.

 

Along with the Impressionist painters, I hold the view that a work of art should express the inspiration of the artist while inviting the participation of the beholder. Of painting it has been said that to state is to destroy; to suggest is to create. Therefore I move toward simplicity of both design and brushwork.
-- Ernesto Zepeda

-Ernesto Donates Collection

-Letter From Ernesto Zepeda