Of course, each person has a distinctive life path—and Jesus Salgueiro's has taken him from one continent to another.
Salgueiro, who is from Venezuela, has had a life filled with passion (according to him and from what others have observed). Said passion has taken him all the way to Chicago—a city he adores. Of course, meeting husband Art Smith (who shot to fame as Oprah Winfrey's chef) might have had something to do with Salgueiro's current residence.
However, another type of art—painting—has been part of the passion as well, and that has led to a show he's putting on Sept. 20 at the River East Art Center: "Going Gaga for Love Mandalas," an exhibit for charity that will combine a 12-piece Lady Gaga exhibit with 42 intricate, hand-painted love mandalas.
Windy City Times recently spoke with Salgueiro at the home he shares with Smith (and has for eight years).
Windy City Times: Tell me about your background.
Jesus Salgueiro: I was born in Venezuela in this little town called Cabimas, where all the oil comes from. It's famous for its petroleum. All the oil in my country comes from my hometown. I come from a humble family; my grandfather was a son of Spanish colonizers who were killed by the Indians, so he grew up with Amazon Indians.
As a kid, he'd make any toy I wanted out of wood. He'd carve with his knife and make all sorts of things. So one day I saw this truck come out to dump a load of gravel and I was fascinated by this truck, and I wanted a toy like that. My grandfather said he could make it, but he painted it green and blue; the one I saw was yellow and red. When I saw the toy, I said, "That's the wrong color." He said to me, "Here are the colors and here are the brushes; you paint it any color you want." So I did. That's how [my love of painting] started, and I haven't looked back.
They had to take the brushes away from me because I wanted to paint everything—the furniture, the doors. It's a blessing to realize your passion at such an early age. When I was younger and I was afraid I wouldn't make it as an artist, I'd do creative jobs and paint on the side.
One time I painted very little—when I had a restaurant in South Beach—and I was unhappy. I sold the restaurant and became a full-time artist.
WCT: And how did you end up in Chicago?
Jesus Salgueiro: I met Art in Miami. He was working for Oprah, and I was working at this flower shop. (It was like working with art for me.) He walked in, and he kept looking at me. He left and I [thought], "Oh, I should've gotten his number." I asked [co-worker] Francisco his name and wanted his number; [Francisco] said, "I think he likes ME." I said, "OK. I never fought for a man; I'm not going to start now."
Six months later, a guy who sold my artwork on the beach said to me, "Oprah's chef bought one of your paintings." I thought [a relationship] was meant to me and I asked to be introduced to Art. Then, another six months later, he showed up and I ended up talking to him on the phone. I asked him to call me later; it was late at night and I wasn't feeling well. Then, he called me early next morning.
He [urged] me to see him. I thought either he's really desperate or he really likes me. He scanned me up and down when I saw him; I was, like, "What the heck?" He then asked if I was from Ecuador; I said no. Then, he asked, "Will you marry me?"
WCT: Stop, stop, stop: This happened on the first date?
Jesus Salgueiro: Yes. I thought, "Oh, my God. This guy is a freak." So I started laughing, and I couldn't stop. Then he got mad and said, "I'm really serious." I said, "Let's go somewhere and talk." So we went to a place and got an arugula-and-prosciutto pizza. In two hours, he talked his way into my house—and he stayed for a week.
I then planned on coming to Chicago. I visited—but he was in Miami because he was on call for Oprah! I was here all by myself. So I cleaned his house, but I fell in love with Chicago. It wasn't easy because I was already established as an artist in Chicago. But at the same time I was looking forward to having a solid relationship. Now, it's been 14 years and things have been amazing and my career is wonderful.
I've lived in America for 30 years, but I only feel at home now. I feel like Chicago is my home. I love the people—they're nicer than in any other major city in America. I really believe that. We travel around the world, but something always pulls me back here.
WCT: I want to talk about your artwork. Your paintings, if I remember correctly from your website, mainly deal with hearts, dancers—and manhole covers?
Jesus Salgueiro: [Laughs] Yes. That's funny to me: a gay man going around the world rubbing manholes.
WCT: Why manhole covers?
Jesus Salgueiro: I'm at the best place I've been in my life. For the first time in my life, I enjoy the process of creating a show. I'm eager to show my work; don't do it because people want you to.
Going back to the covers, I was in Miami in 1994 doing a series on religious icons. It just happened there were deaths—Princess Diana, Versace, Mother Teresa—and they were icons. I went outside and looked at the ground, and there was this manhole cover made up of tiny crosses. My mnd focuses on religious items I come across—and then I noticed different covers around the city.
An artist friend of mine who's from Brazil specializes in painting ceilings. He did a job in Palm Beach where he painted the lobby of a hotel. He covered the lobby with recycled paper; when he was done, he dumped it in the studio. That paper sat for six months; I then told him he needed to clean that. I decided to use that paper myself; I made squares—40 inches by 40 inches—with circles inside. Then I went to the manhole covers and I rubbed the [pattern].
It became beautiful in 10 minutes; chills took over my body. I believe that was God speaking to me. I was there and was like, "God, why do I feel this way?" And a voice answered, "You created something great." I looked around; no one else was there.
I then went around the world, doing these covers—but I wasn't selling them yet. Now I have been holding them for 14 years, and I have 300 of them from 25 countries, and no two look alike. They're really amazing.
Mayor Daley saw them once in my studio and went crazy. It was when Chicago was bidding for the Olympics. He said if Chicago got it, I'd be charged with doing a cover for each country, with an exhibit for the Olympics. I was a disappointment not getting [the bid], but I know God has bigger plans for me. People have gotten mad at me because I didn't sell the covers. I really believe the only purpose of art is to bring joy to the soul.
WCT: Your Facebook posts have phrases similar to that...
Jesus Salgueiro: So many people are afraid of Facebook. I think Facebook is the best thing that could've happened. I [initially] was afraid of it. Then one day, I went it—and Facebook suggested all of my family. But I also realized a lot of things about the Internet, and how it can trace your family through your emails. It's a great tool to keep in touch with family—and then I found friends I lost touch with 30 years ago.
I never try to put anything negative on Facebook. I'm always positive, and I try to write uplifting things. The one time I said something negative—it was about Madonna—I was attacked. I took it off immediately.
WCT: What makes your paintings unique?
Jesus Salgueiro: I'm glad you asked me that question today. Two years ago, I wouldn't know what to tell you.
All my life, people used to say, "I can see your soul in your paintings" and I didn't believe them. I couldn't even feel it, so how could they see it? Today, I understand it. I paint because that's what I love doing; sometimes I forget to eat. I'm in a different world when I paint. I create with my emotions.
It wasn't until 20 years ago—when a big art critic wrote, "You can feel his passion and almost touch his soul"—when I started reflecting on it. Of course, you can see my soul, because that's what creating the work. I want people to feel the love, because it's been there all along.
This latest series I think is my best work, because I'm now complete. Love is the main reason for my work. The idea for this came from a wedding—the epitome of love. It was my niece's wedding in Florida. I'm looking at the tablecloth, and I hold it in my hands and see this beautiful pattern. That's where the idea for the love mandalas came.
The inspiration originally came from the Buddhist mandalas. Those mandalas are the most amazing, intricate pieces of art. I was looking at some when a friend said to me, "It's very sad they don't exist." I asked why, and he said, "Because after they make them, they destroy them. All you see is pictures." I was so upset, but decided to make my own on a canvas so they'll never be destroyed. I don't dwell too much on the philosophies; I go with my heart, soul and feelings.
"Going Gaga for Love Mandalas" will be shown Friday, Sept. 20, at River East Art Center, 445 E. Illinois St., 6-9 p.m. See www.rivereastartcenter.com/chicago and susejart.com .
