Smiling man

ABOUT     ME

my why

My name is Stalin Orlando Rocha Cuascota, a plastic artist and musician from Cayambe, Ecuador. I see myself as a guardian of Ecuador’s Indigenous heritage. From an early age, I was inspired by my mother’s creativity and the ancestral wisdom my grandmother passed down to me while we worked many years in the agave fields together. This sacred knowledge has stayed with me to this day.

My art weaves the essence of our culture and traditions into modern expression, connecting the past with the present so that it can continue to thrive well into the future.

Art is my voice, my passion, and my lifestyle. It has taken me on an extraordinary journeys, allowing me to share Ecuador’s vibrant history and culture with audiences worldwide. My gallery, Anku Tsawar (heart of the penco) serves as both a creative space and a platform to share and connect with my guests about the importance of preserving ancient, fading native traditions and ways of life.

Through my work, I aim to keep our heritage alive, creating a bridge for future generations to understand and celebrate the beauty of Indigenous culture in a rapidly changing world.

Art has given me more than an origin story.

It paved my path.

  • The Roots of Creation: Early Influences

    Art has been woven into my life since the very beginning. My mother, a writer, filled our home with words that went straight from her heart onto pages upon pages of stories, while my father, a musician, filled the air with melodies that could evoke emotions out of the invisible. Their creative pursuits fostered an awakening in my me – art was not just a nice option to be exposed to; it was a way of life. But as much as their art shaped me, it was the time spent with my grandmother that planted the deepest seeds of inspiration in my soul.

    As a child, my days were split between the vibrant pulse of my parents' artistic world and the earthy rhythms of the fields where my grandmother and I, as a small child, worked tirelessly. She was a woman of the land, deeply connected to the wisdom of our Andean ancestors. She taught me the ways of the agave, the plant that became both my muse and my teacher.

    The agave was more than just a plant—it was a symbol of resilience, transformation, and resourcefulness. My grandmother showed me how every part of it could serve a purpose. The leaves could be turned into fibers for weaving; the heart could be cooked into sweet sustenance; its sap, once fermented, became a sacred drink; and its sharp thorns doubled as tools or needles. Each use carried a story, a history, a connection to the land and our people.

    I remember the sensation of rough agave fibers running through my small hands and the sharp thorns of varying shapes and sizes. I learned how to transform these raw materials into something more. I marveled at the transformative process—the raw, unyielding leaves softened into something pliable, something useful, something beautiful. It was there, in those fields, that the seeds of my own creativity began to sprout.

    Though I didn’t know it then, those early lessons would come to define my path as an artist. The agave became a metaphor for my work: the ability to take something raw and seemingly ordinary and turn it into something extraordinary. When I first began experimenting with plastic as a medium, I found myself drawn to its malleability and potential for transformation. It reminded me of the agave—its adaptability, its versatility. It reminded me of me, as I navigated many adverse life experiences as I grew older.

    My art is an homage to those early days in the fields, to the stories my grandmother told me, to the hands-on lessons in patience and ingenuity. Each piece I create carries the essence of that connection, a fusion of the past and the present, of ancestral wisdom and contemporary expression.

    Today, as I mold and shape my works, I often think of my grandmother’s hands, weathered but strong, coaxing beauty and purpose from the earth. She taught me to see the potential in the unrefined, and that vision continues to guide me. Art, like the agave, is a process of transformation, a testament to the power of roots and resilience.

  • A Door to a New Life

    Art has always been more than a passion for me, it has become a way of life that has guided me through countless stages and introduced me to extraordinary people who have marked my path. Through art I have created bonds with family, friends and acquaintances who have shared my triumphs and supported me in my moments of weakness. I owe eternal gratitude to art for having found me and inspired a lifelong dream: to create a space to express the essence of my soul, my spirit and my culture. That dream began with a small gallery, which I hope will one day become a museum.

    It was in that gallery, during a transformative chapter of my life, that art once again worked its magic. As I was building my vision, a tourist on vacation walked through the doors of my gallery and changed my life forever. She became not only a visitor, but the love of my life, my partner and my future wife.

    Art brought this amazing woman into my world, a wise, understanding, and loving companion who has been my strength in difficult times and my guide in times of doubt. With her by my side, I face new opportunities to grow and embrace new dreams. For all this, once again, I thank art for having found me and forged my path. Because art brought a wonderful angel into my life, it is important for me to continue developing as a person and, together with her, build a beautiful life together.

    Art is not just the creation of beautiful things to contemplate; it is a gateway to other parts of life that open unexpected paths, deep connections, and new adventures: everything I never knew I was looking for but that I embrace with joy.

  • An Artist’s Odyssey from Cayambe to the World

    Born and raised in the shadow of the Andes, my journey began with the sounds of traditional Andean music and the vibrant imagery of indigenous art and heritage taught to me by my grandmother. From an early age, creativity was more than just an expression for me — it was a way of understanding the world. Through music and visual arts, I found a voice that transcended language, one deeply rooted in the traditions of my Ecuadorian homeland yet open to the infinite possibilities beyond it.

    Music and art became a bridge, leading me on a journey across borders and cultures. I've had the good fortune of going on a world concert tour earlier in my life with a former music band I played in. With every new place, I encountered different ways of seeing, creating, and feeling — each experience shaped my artistic evolution, even if I didn't realize it in the moment. Playing music in unfamiliar cities and absorbing the essence of diverse traditions, I discovered that creativity was a universal thread connecting people across the world.

    Through these travels, my work became a fusion of influences: Andean rhythms intertwined with global sounds and indigenous symbolism infused with new textures and colors. Every encounter, every collaboration, every moment spent in a foreign place left an imprint, expanding my artistic language and deepening my understanding of what it means to be both rooted and free.

    Today, my art continues to be a reflection of this journey: of home, of exploration, of the shared human experience. It is a testament to the power of creativity to open doors, forge connections, and transform dreams into reality. And I have art to thank for all of this.

Awards & Recognition

2024
Costanza Foundation
Palermo, Italy

2023
Carrousel du Louvre Exhibition
Paris, France

2023
The Global Federation of Leadership and High Intelligence AC
Querétaro, Mexico

2023
USA Book of World Records
New Delhi, India

2023
Contemporary Art Biennial
Salerno, Italy

2022
Contemporary Art International Biennial
Cali, Colombia

2018
Contemporary Art Festival
Venezuela

Exhibitions & Biennales

2024 International Art Dubai Exhibition
Dubai, United Arab Emirates

2023 Carrousel du Louvre Exhibition
Paris, France

2022 Totomej Sanili: Big Felines Exhibition
Cancun, Mexico

2022 Totomej Sanili: Monarchs & Birds
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico

2022 Bella Muse Art Studio Exhibition
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

2021 Quetzales Exhibition
Mexico City, Mexico

2021 Totomej Sanili Collective Exhibition
Mexico City, Mexico

2018 Contemporary Art Festival
Venezuela

2021 Geba Art Gallery Exhibition
Bogota, Colombia

2021 Mexican Art Exhibition
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico

2021 International Handicraft Fair Exhibition
Mexico City, Mexico

2021 Museo Zacatlán MUZA Exhibition
Zacatlán, Mexico

2021 Colibri International World Arts Day
Mexico City, Mexico

2020 Environment Gallery Exhibition
Chiapas, Mexico

2020 Quetzales Collective Exhibition
Tlalnepantla de Baz, Mexico

2020 World Art Day in Guadalajara
Guadalajara, Mexico

2025 Biennale Internazionale dell'Etruria
Kawaguchi, Japan

2023 Contemporary Art Biennial
Salerno, Italy

2022 Contemporary Art International Biennial
Cali, Colombia

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