Biography
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I am a Mexican sculptor and visual artist born on June 22nd, 1951 in Mexico City to visual artists Francisco Mora and Elizabeth Catlett.
“I’d rather keep my hands dirty and my art clean.” - Rivington School or Wat by Amr G. Shaker As an artist, I believe in the public function of art and art as a mean of communication that connects people. This need for communication is what drives me and it is why I want to address people directly through my work. “Art brings people together and connects them in spite of existing social, political, cultural divides.” I often chose to illustrate sceneries of everyday life. With my art, I want to not only create something people can relate to but also shine a light on the essence of different cultures. That is why my art visualizes my experience in the US, Mexico, Germany, and the countries I have visited. In my paintings, the colorful scenes often take shape with the viewer taking perspective. I like to explore different subject matters and approaches to abstraction. From an early point in my career, I have always liked to experiment with materials, colors, and techniques. |
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“I’d rather keep my hands dirty and my art clean.” These are the words of David Mora, a Mexican artist who believes in the public function of art. It is this need for communication that Mora puts to use in his canvases as well as on the fences that he paints on. In them, Mora often illustrates sceneries of everyday life which are close to the people and which –as he says- are addressed to the people." - From the book Rivington School or Wat by Amr G. Shaker
The interesting feature in Mora’s work, however, lies in the form of his paintings and not merely in their subject matter. In fact, his colorful sceneries often take shape with the viewer taking perspective. At this point, one can only wonder if this subtlety –often a trademark of his work- serves to emphasize the “function” of his art or whether it represents a new approach to abstraction. Perhaps it is even both!" - From the book Rivington School or Wat by Amr G. Shaker TEACHING AND LECTURES
Art Teacher (1987) Summer Youth Program DCA Detroit, USA Lecture (1985) Howard University Washington D.C., USA Lecture (1983) Puerto Rican and Latin American Cultural Center of University of Connecticut, Connecticut, USA Art Teacher (1981) International School Hamburg, Germany Sculpture dep. teaching assistantship (1980) Illinois State University, Normal, USA. Delegate (1976) INTERGRAFIK, Berlin, Germany Sculptue and Printing (1976) CCH UNAM Mexico Mexico City, Mexico |
EDUCATION
Sculptor apprentice & assistant of Elizabeth Catlett (1962 – 2012) Cuernavaca, Mexico Master of Arts,(1982 -1983) Scholarship at New York University New York City, USA Masters Art Program & Teaching Assistantship (1980) Art Dep. at Illinois State University, Normal, USA Video dep. student (1979) School of Visual Arts New York City, USA Art dep. student (1978) Scholarship at Skowhegan School of Art Skowhegan, USA Licenciate of Visual Arts (1970 - 1976) National University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico Art dep. student (1971) Howard University Washington D.C., USA Bachelor of Arts (1966 - 1969) Preparatory School No.9 National University of Mexico Mexico City, Mexico 
Many colors of his numerous journeys and his various living-places come together in the work of David. The wild and cheerful colors are an appeal to open our senses to tolerance and other concepts of life." - Dr. Helga Prignitz Poda 
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INDIVIDUAL SHOWS
Preparatory Shool No 9 (1969) National University of Mexico (UNAM) Mexico City, Mexico Ust. Restaurant (1971) Washington D.C., USA School of Fine Arts San Carlos (1973) National University of Mexico (UNAM) Mexico City, Mexico Cultural Centers of the National Institute of Fine Arts (1974) SanLuis Potosi, Aguas Calientes, Queretaro & Guanajuato, Mexico Casa del Lago (1976) Chapultepec Park Mexico City, Mexico Shool of Fine Arts San Carlos (1976) National University of Mexico (UNAM) Mexico City, Mexico A's (1979) New York City, USA Stillwende Club (1982) New York City, U.S.A Armagedon Club (1982) New York City, U.S.A Washington SQ. Gallery (1983) New York University, New York N.Y. A's (1984) New York City, U.S.A Rathaus Gallery der Stadt Bochold (1985) Euregio Kunstkreis EV. Bochold, Germany “Multicultural & Intercultural Art Exhibition” (1986) Jakson State University, Jakson; USA Puerto Rican & Latin American Cultural Center (1986) University of Connecticut Connecticut, USA Dorsey Gallery (1989) New York City, USA Art Gallery Von Sturm (1992) since then permanent representatives Hamburg, Germany Zentrum für Gefässmedizin (2003) Hamburg, Germany Zentrum für Gefässmedizin (2004) Hamburg, Germany Il Porto Wine Celler (2010) Hamburg, Germany Nao Gourmet Restaurant (2011) Hamburg, Germany Bibliotheca Publica (2012) Grandola, Portugal 
In his family the commitment to the oppressed, the discriminated and the one who think differently, and against prejudice and racism was and is a tradition. To express this engagement in such chaotic and anarchistic color is a distinctive feature of the work of David Mora." - Dr. Helga Prignitz Poda 
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GROUP SHOWS
100 years Elizabeth Catlett (2015) Collective show with Elizabeth Catlett, Francisco Mora Perez & Jazmin Mora Catlett Stella jones Gallery, New Orleans, USA San Carlos la Generacion (2010) Traveling show in Mexico Sediwa Art Gallery (2005) Collective show with Jo Koser Hamburg, Germany Artistas en Cuernavaca (2000) Jardin Borda Cuernavaca, Mexico lnauguration show (1999) Colegio Suizo Mexicano Cuemavaca, Mexico Galeria 3917 (1998) Collective show Houston, USA Weinachtsausstellung (1993) Art Gallery Von Sturm Hamburg, Germany Xmas Show (1990) Dorsey Gallery New York City, USA Zwei Generationen (1989) Collective show with Francisco Mora, Infaust Gallery Hamburg, Germany Black Arts Festival (1988) Collective show with Francisco Mora & Elizabeth Catlett Atlanta, USA The Mora Brothers Show (1987) Michigan Gallery Detroit, USA Toyo's & Kadre's Show (1986) Mars Bar New York City, USA Furniture Show (1986) NoSeNo, New York City, USA Rotterdam Council of the Arts (1986) Sculpture with Linus Coraggio Rotterdam, the Netherlands CUANDO (1986) Escape from Donna's Purgatorius Show with the Multinational Chain Gang from Down Town New York New York City, USA Street Artist Show (1986) NoSeNo New York City, USA 22 Seconds Show (1986) Mural at Forsyth St. Confusion Art Gallery New York City, USA Arts Electronica Festival (1986) Sculpture performance Linz, Austria Arts Electronica Festival (1986) Performance with Arleen Schloss and the BlaBlaBJa's Linz, Austria Radio Belleview and Frigo (1986) Radio Program with the Rivington Shool Lyon, France Rote Fabrik (1986) Performance with Stadt Werk Statt Zurich, Switzerland Painting Bianual (1985) National Auditorium Chapultepec Park, Mexico New Talents Show (1985) Salon de Ja Plastica Mexicana Zona Rosa Mexico City, Mexico ABC del Rio (1985) New York City, USA Art Collection of Teachers (1985) Detroit Council of the Arts, Detroit, USA A's Sculpture Garden (1985) New York City, USA Summer Show (1985) FUN Gallery, New York City, USA Mensen VanHeinde en Verre (1985) Tentoonstelling, the Netherlands NoSeNo (1985) New York City, USA Show for Africa (1984) Twenty First Street Gallery New York City, USA Art & Design Gallery (1983) New York City, USA No Se No (1983) New York City, USA A's Sculpture Garden (1983) New York City, USA CBGB's Slide Show (1983) New York City, USA Club 57 (1982) New York City, USA Israel Gallery (1981) Amsterdam, the Netherlands Westbeth Gallery (1981) New York City, USA Secretary of Foreign Affairs (1977) Mexico City, Mexico Exposicion de la Acuarela (1978) National Institute of Fine Arts Mexico City, Mexico INTERGRAFIK (1976) Berlin, Germany INTERGRAFIK (1973) Berlin, Germany Black Expo 72 (1972) San Francisco, USA Dianetic Center (1970) Mexico City, Mexico |
