La Casa del Arte features artist Arturo Samaniego

COURTESY PHOTO Pearls Arturo Samaniego's artwork will grace the walls of La Casa del Arte the month of January. The opening reception will be held Jan. 2 from 6 to 10 p.m. during the monthly Art Walk event.

Mr. Samaniego was born in Mexico City, and his formative years were spent between that gothic metropolis and his mother's home town of Alicante, in Spain. From those two very rich traditions, he started absorbing his family's many influences: there were opera singers, journalists, artists and writers. His first formal studies in art took place at La Esmeralda, the famous school founded by Fridah Khalo and Diego Rivera.

When he eventually came to the United States to attend college, family pressures veered him toward a degree in business. He ended up with two degrees in four years: business and art. The next 14 years he spent developing a successful business, until his vocation to be a painter allowed him to waste no more time. In 2004 he took the plunge to become a full-time artist.

After exploring different forms of expression, he has found his voice in a style that could be described as contemporary figurative.

The confluence of opposing currents excites his artistic sensibility. He loves the intrinsic value of traditional representation, and strives for excellence and craftsmanship in his own work.

"I look to avoid, however, the redundant and repetitious," said Mr. Samaniego. "My style is a hybrid of realism, minimalist cool, and contemporary edge."

La Casa del Arte is located at 1803 Hough St., in downtown Fort Myers. Call the gallery at 313-5607 or check the Web site for new seasonal hours at www.thearthousefortmyers. com. Owners Greg and Jessamin Knezevich will also be happy to make an appointment for a private showing.