Chasing Santa Fe: Sergio Moyano - An Explosion of Color

Photos by C. Whitney-Ward

Sergio Moyano is a force of nature. His wild and wiry mane of hair belies his sweet personality and gentleness. He lives to paint and has a one-man show this weekend at Museo Cultural de Santa Fe.

A native of Argentina, Sergio found his way to Santa Fe 40 years ago and has been smitten ever since. He was lured here by Ron Adams, a close friend who was a master printer and owned HAND GRAPHICS. Sergio worked there for years, specializing in lithography and etching, working with the likes of R. C. Gorman and Fritz Scholder. "There was a Renaissance of Native American artists at that time," he remembers. "All of them did their printing at Hand Graphics."

Sergio did etchings and mono types as well, and has a small etching press in his home/studio now, but currently he paints large canvases in a style that can only be described as Explosive Abstract.

He paints with acrylic and enamel, on the floor, usually with wild abandon. "When I owned a dog, there would always be paw tracks across my paintings," he says with a big Sergio smile and laugh. And there is always music playing in the background - classical or really good jazz. He has an inside studio and a summer studio just outside his front door. And he is a very happy guy. "I enjoy the most beautiful sky on the planet," he offers when asked what he loves about Santa Fe.