Leonardo Linares Vargas
Artist
Leonardo Linares Vargas
Mexico City
Within popular art, cartonería holds great importance in its creative development, particularly in the making of various paper and cardboard figures such as alebrijes, Judas figures, skulls, and Catrinas for celebrations like the Day of the Dead.
A descendant of Pedro Linares—an artisan credited with creating the alebrijes, sculptures of various sizes painted in bright colors that combine different physiognomic aspects of multiple animals—the Linares family has inherited the tradition of cartonería. Leonardo Linares Vargas is one of the heirs to this popular tradition, having learned the craft from his grandfather, Don Pedro Linares, who taught him the creation of artistic objects made from paper and cardboard. This art has brought him international recognition, earning him awards for his exceptional work and artistic dedication.