Figurative Painter Martin Luera
By Patric Stillman
San Diego-based artist Martin Luera is known for challenging conventions, using his art to explore complex themes of gender identity, anatomy, and cultural heritage. Born and raised along the U.S.-Mexico border, Luera’s life experiences have deeply informed his artistic journey. His work draws on both classical Western art traditions and contemporary explorations of identity, making him a unique voice in the LGBTQ+ art world.
From an early age, Luera found in art a way to express himself when words fell short. Assigned female at birth while growing up in National City and Chula Vista, he was immersed in a diverse cultural environment that shaped his view of the world. “I always maintained a strong connection to my roots,” Luera explains, referencing his bicultural upbringing. His Mexican heritage and personal experiences have found rich expression in his artwork, particularly in his explorations of the male form and the fluidity of identity.
Luera pursued his formal education in art at the University of San Diego (USD), where he earned his undergraduate degree, and later at San Diego State University (SDSU), where he obtained his MFA. Now, as a SDSU School of Art and Design professor, Luera shares his passion for art with students, inspiring the next generation of artists to challenge norms and embrace their unique perspectives.
Luera’s body of work encompasses two main series: his Lotería figures and his anatomical studies. The Lotería series, inspired by the traditional Mexican game, takes iconic characters such as angels, mermaids and soldiers, and reimagines them as carefree, seductive figures. Through these personifications, Luera investigates themes of identity, sexuality, and representation, blending cultural tradition with contemporary questions of gender. “I’ve always been interested in redefining how gender is portrayed,” Luera says, describing his intention to challenge societal norms through these playful yet powerful images.
His anatomical studies, in contrast, focus on the human body in its raw, exposed form. Drawing from his experience as a life drawing instructor, Luera “peels back the skin” to reveal the inner workings of the body, blending beauty with fragility. “There’s something profound in revealing the layers of the human form,” he says, noting how this exploration of anatomy mirrors his personal exploration of identity. For Luera, the body is not just a subject of artistic study but a metaphor for the complexity of self-discovery.
Luera’s work is deeply rooted in classical art, with strong influences from Greek sculpture, Baroque, and Rococo periods. However, his approach subverts these traditions by adding a modern twist, particularly in how he portrays gender. “I have an affinity for classical art, but I’m also interested in how it can be disrupted,” Luera explains. His work seeks to question and redefine the traditional depictions of the male body, often blending masculine and androgynous qualities to challenge rigid gender representations.
As part of this year’s ART+ LGBT History Month exhibition at The Studio Door, Luera’s participation includes both his Lotería figures and newer anatomical works. His art offers a bridge between past and present, tradition and innovation, making it a perfect fit for the exhibition’s theme of exploring LGBTQ+ history through art. His contribution speaks to both his personal journey and the broader cultural conversations around identity and representation in the LGBTQ+ community.
Looking to the future, Luera is eager to continue pushing boundaries. “I want my work to break more boundaries,” he says, hinting at future projects that will dive even deeper into themes of identity and transformation. As he expands his artistic practice, Luera remains committed to exploring the complexities of the human form and identity, ensuring that his work remains both visually and conceptually provocative.
To learn more, Martin can be found online @mlueracollections and mlueracollections.com.