Highlights of the MOLAA Collection
ROSA ELENA CURRUCHICH BAL
(Guatemala, 1958 - 2005)
The Man Teaches Singing, 20th Century
Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 3.5 x 3 inches
MOLAA Permanent Collection, gift from Joseph Johnston and Eric Noble.
Accession: M.2025.003.010
ABOUT THE ARTWORK
After Rosa Elena Curruchich Bal exhibited her work in Guatemala City for the first time, some male artists from San Juan Comalapa, her hometown, became jealous of her success as a woman, even threatening and attacking her. This experience forced her to paint in secret. Because of both the persecution she faced and the ongoing genocide of Maya communities during the Guatemalan Civil War (1960-1996), Curruchich Bal painted on a small scale, allowing her works to be transported without drawing unwanted attention. Here, she portrays a singing class with careful detail, demonstrating her resilience in painting Maya lived experiences and cultural traditions despite the violence around her.
Rosa Elena Churrchich Bal, The Man Teaches Singing, 20th Century
BIOGRAPHY
Kaqchickel Maya artist Rosa Elena Curruchich Bal was the first woman painter in San Juan Comalapa, Guatemala. The granddaughter of Andrés Curruchich, who is considered the father of Guatemalan folk art, Rosa Elena first exhibited her work in Guatemala City in 1979. In response to her exhibition, she was threatened and attacked by male painters from San Juan Comalapa, which forced her to go into hiding. Due to this experience, as well as the threat of the genocidal Guatemalan Civil War (1960 – 1996), Curruchich Bal painted discreetly. She created small paintings that could be transported easily and without attracting attention. Her work mainly depicts traditions, ceremonies, religious processions, and the role of women in Maya society. After her death in 2005, her work has been exhibited worldwide, including in San Juan, Costa Rica (2019), Vienna (2021), and at the Venice Biennale in 2024. Her paintings are also in the permanent collections of El Museo del Barrio in New York City and the Museum of Latin American Art, Long Beach, CA.
