Arturo Sanchez

The work is in good condition overall, as is the canvas. There are indications of minor wear and handling around the edges. Under ultraviolet light inspection, there is no evidence of restoration. Unframed, on stretcher.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The winds of change sweep hard and fast through Here Comes Hope from the Last Light of Day by Arturo Sanchez. A tornado swallows the canvas, threatening to flatten everything in its wake. As its title implies, however, the work is optimistic in the face of adversity. Its underlying message borrows from the aphorism that “in every crisis lies the seed of opportunity.” Sure enough, just around the edges of the storm, the golden aurora of morning is breaking through.

Sanchez, who often portrays moments of tranquility, surprises with a whirling wall of clouds tempered by shades of amber. It is a powerful picture of how something as ephemeral as air can become a force to be reckoned with.
Inside a symmetric arrangement of different-sized convex mirrors, Sanchez collages images of disasters—both natural and man-made—and decorative designs. Black-and-white historical photographs of wars, bombings, storms, and landslides are overlaid with colorful depictions of flowers and traditional things of beauty. The contrast is startling and deliberate: a confident metaphor showing that good can and will rise from the ashes of the bad.

Sanchez has moved on from a random pastiche of collages to a more considered and curated collection of images. He retains the same technique of inserting vintage cutouts behind each mirror’s reflective surface and sealing them in with lacquer. His sense of purpose, however, has become more pronounced. The goal of every element in his present work is to amplify the message of his painting, to tell one story.
Sanchez reminds us of our resilience. His work is not a false dawn. It is the sun rising after the storm, the blooming of flowers in the arid desert, the birth of new life after battle. It is hope coming from the last light of day. 

-ll