" A man of few words but tremendous talent, Francisco Quintero can possibly best be described as Vallarta´s Michelangelo" say Joe and Claire Guarniere of Galleria Dante, wich represents his powerful works. " He is one of the most talented sculptors I have ever seen" adds Joe.
Although Francisco moved here from Mazatlán as a very young boy, he proudly considers himself Vallartense.His father was a fisherman who trolled the waters between Mazatlán and Vallarta and Francisco grew up loving fishing as much as sculpting. And to this day he can often be seen on the Los Muertos pier, fishing rod in hand.
First expressing himself artistically through the natural clay he found when playing for countless memorable hours on Isla Cuale- long before the island was developed, as it is today- he later began drawing and painting. And at 14 he enrolled in an art program at the University of Guadalajara, subsequently honing the skills learned there by working as an apprentice sculptor and collaborating on some large sculptures still displayed in that city´s main plaza.
For the past 15 years he has been teaching appreciative students at the municoipal art school on the island where it all began, his creative output emanating from this wonderful chilhood memories
( by Cinthia Beare for the magazine Vallarta Lyfestyles)