Máximo Laura

Early life Laura was born in Ayacucho, Peru. Laura is the fifth generation of weavers that learned his craft as a child at the side of his father while growing up in Ayacucho. He learned his art by never silencing the internal self-exploration or the external exploration of the world, including a lifelong study of art history and literature beyond the borders of Perú.

Studies Laura studied literature at the National University of San Marcos and also studied at the National School of Fine Arts in Ayacucho. He is also self-educated and continues to learn and study at his studio in Lima, Peru.

Career Early works His early works began at the start of the 1980s. They were geometric designs and their themes were principally recreations of iconography, mythology and symbolism of ancestral Andean civilizations.

He then began adding vibrant colors and forms to the pre-Columbian heritage designs and iconography to make them more contemporary, while still maintaining the spirit of the message. At that time, this was considered very avant-garde.

Museo Máximo Laura Source:

In 2013 Laura founded his museum, Museo Máximo Laura (MML) located in the historic center of Cusco, declared "Cultural Heritage of Humanity" by UNESCO in 1983.

The MML hosts a permanent exhibition of 42 tapestries, some of which have won awards worldwide. It also has a gallery shop where you can purchase some of his works and souvenirs.

The MML shares its collection with institutions, textile centers, weavers and textile artists interested in studying and/or researching Laura's techniques and works. In addition, MML collaborates with art communities by offering educational programs such as internships and an artist residency program.

Inspiration and Influences Laura draws from many sources of inspiration, such as the Chavin culture which is expressive and totemic; the Paracas culture which is colorful and strong; the Nazca culture and the Wari culture for their geometric forms; and the Chancay culture from its sobriety and linear spirit.

Collections National Museum of Peruvian Culture, Lima, PERU Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, Washington DC, US The World Bank, Washington DC, US The World Heritage Center (UNESCO), Paris, FRANCE Iberoamerican Museum of Craft, Puerto La Cruz, VENEZUELA Museum of the Americas, Miami, US Craft Museum of Finland, Jyvaskyla, FINLAND Museum of Iberoamerican Crafts, La Orotava, Tenerife, SPAIN The Latvian National Museum of Art, Riga, LATVIA Palacio de Torre Tagle, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru, Lima, PERU World Textile Art Organization, Miami, US Museum of Art and Popular Traditions of Riva Agüero Institute, Lima, PERU Andean Institute of Folk Arts Andrés Bello, Quito, ECUADOR Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Integration and International Trade Negotiations, Lima, PERU Embassy of Peru – Washington DC, US Embassy of Peru, Quito, ECUADOR Embassy of Peru, Asunción, PARAGUAY Embassy of Peru, Helsinki, FINLAND Former President of Latvia Ms Vaira Vike-Freiberga, LATVIA

Awards

National Living Human Treasure of Peru, by Banco de la Nación and UNESCO, 2010, PERU Award for Excellence, WTA – VI International Biennial of Contemporary Textile Art, MEXICO Outstanding Award, "From Lausanne to Beijing" 6th International Fiber art Biennale, CHINA Special Prize, 4th Riga International Textile and Fibre Art Triennial Tradition & Innovation, LATVIA Honorary Mention Award, 13th International Triennial of Tapestry, POLAND Mention Prize, 5th International Biennial of Textile Art, ARGENTINA Bronze Prize, "From Lausanne to Beijing" 5th International Fiber art Biennale, CHINA II Award – Silver Medal, Scythia 7th International Biennial Exhibition on Textile Art, UKRAINE HGA Award in recognition of an outstanding work, Handweavers Guild of America, US People's Choice Award, Land: the Tapestry Foundation of Victoria Award Exhibition, AUSTRALIA "Best in Show" Contemporary Latin American Art 8 organized by the Art Museum of the Americas, US 1st Place Award, Small Expressions 2009, US "Grand National Prize Amautas of Peruvian Handicraft", Government of Peru, PERU 1st National Craft Prize "Golden Hands", PERU