Founder's Review

A Passionate Salute to Gerardo Labarca and the Spirit of Artistic Unity

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In times of political friction and uncertainty—especially with the escalating tensions with our neighbors to the north—there remains a flickering, resilient light that binds us: the spirit of creativity. While policies may divide, the language of art continues to unite. It is with this hope, courage, and conviction that I turn our gaze to Montreal, Québec, where a magnetic creative force, Gerardo Labarca, is reimagining the boundaries of visual storytelling.

 

I am absolutely thrilled—no, honored—to feature Gerardo Labarca, a Montreal-based artistic marvel, in this issue of Explore Art Magazine. Gerardo's work is not just seen—it is felt. It reverberates through the soul like a haunting melody, impossible to forget and impossible not to crave more. His captivating creations are the very antidote our fractured cultural moment so desperately needs.

 

Gerardo’s journey to the canvas was not a straight path, but a courageous reinvention. After cementing his legacy in Montreal’s elite culinary circles—creating and directing restaurants that shaped the city’s gourmet scene—he chose, at 47, to answer a deeper calling: painting. And thank goodness he did.

 

What emerged was not a novice’s timid exploration, but a masterful declaration. Labarca paints with an intensity that whispers, roars, and breathes all at once. His portraits are stunning contradictions: painstakingly detailed yet ethereal, deeply emotional yet effortlessly elegant. He reaches into the heart of his subjects—human or animal—and extracts something essential, something timeless.

 

More than an artist, Labarca is a humanitarian with a brush. His reverence for wildlife and nature pulses through his canvases, reminding us of our shared responsibility to preserve what is wild and beautiful. His visual activism is quiet, graceful, and yet profoundly loud in its message. He paints not only to express, but to awaken.

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There’s a generosity in Gerardo’s work and in his spirit. He doesn’t merely rise—he uplifts. Whether mentoring fellow creatives or sharing his process through digital platforms, he embodies what it means to be a true cultural leader. He inspires not just by what he creates, but by how he lives: with passion, perseverance, and purpose.

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In Gerardo Labarca, we find not only the celebration of artistic excellence, but a reflection of what’s possible when borders blur and creativity flows freely. Amid geopolitical noise, his art reminds us that humanity is still listening—still hoping, still dreaming, still connecting.

 

Let this be a testament: the human spirit is louder than politics.

And through the mesmerizing vision of Gerardo Labarca, we are all invited to feel, reflect, and above all—unite.

 

With passion and pride,

Renée L. Rose

Founder/Explore Art 

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