Meet Luisa Magaña Ortiz | Painter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Luisa Magaña Ortiz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Luisa, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The success of my work is undoubtedly that my paintings reflect the way my eyes see the world. I am a person with a disability, and my brain does not function the same as others. That’s why my works are so unique. People need to be open to different types of art, and my clients appreciate my special way of painting

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As I was saying, I started after my surgery. My sisters, my brother-in-law, my dad, my cousins, and my uncles were the first to be my clients; everyone wanted to have a Luisa painting in their homes. When their acquaintances saw my works, they became interested, and I began receiving orders from people I didn’t know. I ended up creating so many pieces that my older sister helped me open my Instagram profile to showcase my work… And since then, I’ve worked for people from the United States, Canada, Spain, Argentina, and from all over my country, Mexico.

I enjoy every order, but without a doubt, the ones I love the most are the ones from people who ask me to paint their pets. Portraits of dogs and cats are the most requested, and they make me very happy because I’m a dog mom to Kala and Bianca, my adopted dogs. It’s because of them that I like earning money, so I can buy treats for them, gourmet food, sweaters for the cold, and everything I want for them.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would go in the morning to Parque México in Condesa, to walk around for a while surrounded by dogs. That neighborhood is full of cafes where you can sit for hours chatting. In the afternoon, I would head to the Roma neighborhood, full of restaurants and bars… Although I don’t drink, I love eating good food. It’s a great plan to go to a trendy terrace to eat, and for those who like, they can enjoy a glass of wine. A sunny day is perfect for going to the Xochimilco trajineras, spending the day surrounded by delicious food and mariachis. I would also visit Coyoacán, to walk around, see crafts, spend a lovely afternoon, and of course, visit the Frida Kahlo Museum, my favorite artist.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’m going to tell you a little bit about myself. I was born with a syndrome called Pallister Hall, and since I was young, I’ve had many health problems because of it. As a child, I always loved creative activities: painting, drawing, cooking, and putting together puzzles… Two years ago, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor and had surgery. After my surgery, I returned to painting in a more formal way. It’s like therapy for me, where I forget everything and focus only on my canvas.

My mom takes me to buy my favorite paints. I love glitter, sparkles, and I have some metallic paints that I’m crazy about. I have many brushes and I paint with acrylics and watercolors. My mom is the person who has been with me my whole life; she takes me to buy all my materials, she set up a studio for me at home where there’s lots of light. Thanks to her, I was able to start this journey. Little by little, people started showing interest in my paintings, and it’s thanks to my family that I became known.

Instagram: luisa_pintura