It’s truly a rare thing when one person’s work inspires praise from almost everyone who sees it. The art of Margarita Checa presents one of the few examples of such widespread praise. Born in 1950 in Lima, Peru, Checa became interested in art at an early age. While attending a private school in London, she decided to go to the School of the Arts of the Catholic University in Peru. There, she was introduced to sculpture and began working in bronzes in 1977. She graduated with honors in 1979. In 1982, Margarita Checa rented a studio and opened it as [...]]]>

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It’s truly a rare thing when one person’s work inspires praise from almost everyone who sees it. The art of Margarita Checa presents one of the few examples of such widespread praise. Born in 1950 in Lima, Peru, Checa became interested in art at an early age. While attending a private school in London, she decided to go to the School of the Arts of the Catholic University in Peru. There, she was introduced to sculpture and began working in bronzes in 1977. She graduated with honors in 1979.
In 1982, Margarita Checa rented a studio and opened it as the Cristina Galvez Atelier (named after her tutor), along with painter Leslie Lee and potter Ana Maria Cogorno. After briefly exploring painting, she concentrated on the medium of woodwork. Her move to wood was dictated by the requirement to develop larger pieces, and after living in Costa Rica from 1992 to 1995 to escape the political turmoil in Peru, she started to make works that contained inlaid metal. These sculptures best represent her genius.

People have described Margarita Checa’s works as both sensual and melancholy. They draw heavily from pre-Hispanic Peruvian art. Her sculptures have visual and aesthetic connections to the mummies, masks, and sculptures of the Chancay and Paracas cultures. She uses mixtures of wood, like olive and mahogany, and other materials like bullhorn and bronze. Under her watchful eye and practiced hand, raw materials acquire a life and character all their own, and each finished sculpture speaks both to the beholder’s mind and soul. The Bill Lowe Gallery represents Margarita Checa in the U.S., and people can watch her works in Lowe’s Atlanta and L.A. galleries. Those requiring more information on these galleries should visit LoweGallery.com.