Collaborating brothers Einar and Jamex de la Torre were born in Guadalajara, México, in 1963 and 1960, respectively. In 1972, their family relocated to the United States, taking them from a traditional Catholic school in Mexico to a small beach town in California. Both brothers studied at California State University, Long Beach, and later taught at the esteemed Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, Washington. Today, they live and work on both sides of the border — the Guadalupe Valley in Baja California, México, and San Diego, California. The complexities of the immigrant experience, bicultural identity, and cross-border life continue to inform their narrative and aesthetic sensibility.
The de la Torre brothers began their full-time collaboration in the 1990s, developing a distinctive visual language that blends mixed media, blown glass sculpture, and installation. Their work offers a layered and often humorous perspective on contemporary life, marked by a richly ornate, baroque style. Their additive approach draws from a wide array of influences, including religious iconography, German Expressionism, pre-Columbian art, and Mexican vernacular traditions.
In the past 15 years, they have expanded their practice to include photomural installations and lenticular printing, now integral elements of their creative repertoire. Their accolades include the USA Artists Fellowship, the Louis Comfort Tiffany Award, the Joan Mitchell Foundation Award, and the San Diego Art Prize.
With over 18 solo museum exhibitions, 8 major public art commissions, and participation in 4 biennales, the brothers have established an influential and prolific career. Their recent traveling retrospective, Collidoscope: A de la Torre Brothers Retro-Perspective // Colidoscopio: Una Retro-Perspectiva de los hermanos de la Torre, curated by Selene Preciado and organized by the Smithsonian Latino Center and Riverside Art Museum, inaugurated The Cheech — the new national center for Chicano art at the Riverside Art Museum housing Cheech Marin’s collection. The exhibition will next be on view at the Mint Museum in Charlotte, NC, from June 7 to September 21, 2025.
