MIAMI, FLA.- When Ascaso Gallery opens Reciprocity this fall, visitors will enter more than a group exhibition. They will encounter a conversation across generations, a dialogue between Julio Larraz—one of Latin America’s most imaginative painters—and eleven artists whose practices he has shaped through guidance, example, or inspiration.

“The idea for Reciprocity was born from a deep desire to bridge the gap between generations,” Larraz reflects. “Throughout my life, I’ve received so much from those who came before me, and it seemed right and necessary to open a space where young artists, with whom I share affection and dialogue, could show their works alongside mine. Seeing them today in this exhibition is an act of celebration and continuity.”


Maia Larraz, "Are You Happy Now?",2025,Oil on Canvas,60x48in

For many of the participating artists, Larraz’s influence is inseparable from their growth. His daughter Maia recalls, “Julio dismantled the myth of the tortured, inconsistent artist and revealed the power of moving quickly, trusting your vision, and capturing it before it fades.” Her sister-in-law, Heidy Love Larraz, describes years of living among his works: “I absorbed lessons from his brush without a word spoken. Later, his incisive critiques urged me to paint with greater honesty. For his guidance and poetic approach, I am profoundly grateful.” For Julio himself, sharing the artistic stage with his family is a source of pride: “It’s a great joy to see art become a common language within my family. It unites us in creation.”

Leticia Sánchez Toledo remembers visiting Larraz’s Miami studio in 2010, before her first solo show: “Seeing his work in progress was deeply inspiring, but even more so was meeting the person behind the canvas—generous, sharp, and possessed of a wry humor. To now exhibit alongside him feels like a full-circle moment.”


Reynier Ferrer, "Ascending Bird", 2022 Oil on canvas 70 x 71 in

Reyner Ferrer says, “Meeting him, sharing ideas, and witnessing the raw energy he brings to his work sparked deep mental connections and a fresh wave of inspiration. His philosophy of unrestrained commitment pushed me to create from a freer, more fiercely honest place. That is how I understand artistic reciprocity.” Reinier Llanes recalls meeting him in 2015: “Julio is not only a friend but also my mentor and my role model. His extraordinary use of light, composition, and form was deeply moving, and his guidance has been invaluable.”

“Working alongside Julio Larraz in my early twenties profoundly shaped my artistic path,” recalls Jefreid Lotti. “It was far beyond a studio job; it became a true apprenticeship. His mastery of composition, narrative, and light gave me permission to unleash my imagination. His presence at my first exhibition was a powerful affirmation that still guides me today.” Julio Figueroa Beltrán, who spent fifteen years in Larraz’s studio, reflects: “A truly powerful image often resides in the balance between ambiguity and precision. Over the years, he has become more than a mentor; he is family.”


Nelson Jalil, "The Missing Pages # 2", Oil on Canvas 65 x 100 In

Nelson Halil remembers: “I vividly recall one afternoon spent at his swimming pool, photographing sheets of paper floating on the water to use as a reference for a painting. Watching the hand of a master at work shaped not only my methods but my understanding of discipline and freedom in art.” Edel Lugones calls meeting Larraz “a deeply enriching experience” and emphasizes the artist’s “rare generosity of spirit.” Sculptor Jojacne Téllez, who has collaborated with him on monumental bronzes since 2015, describes their work together as “a profound learning experience that expanded my perspective on sculpture and opened new creative possibilities.” Even those who have never met him in person attest to his reach. “His work taught me to paint not just what I see, but what I feel and imagine,” says Cooper Dragonette. “Over time, this freedom reshaped my practice entirely.”

For Larraz, seeing his influence reflected in others is moving. “It’s not about them repeating my style, but rather about them finding in my example the confidence to seek their own path. When I see an echo of my ideas in their work, I feel like the seed has germinated in the best way: transforming into something new and authentic.”


Leticia Sanchez - 039 Study for Between Blues 18x24 inches, oil on paper.

Freedom, he insists, is the essence of art. “In Reciprocity, each artist has complete freedom to show their world, without constraints. Freedom is the very essence of art, because only from freedom can something true be created.” This conviction has guided his career through decades of change. “Creative freedom is non-negotiable. Without it, art becomes propaganda or empty merchandise. Defending it is defending the dignity of the artist.”

“I would like the audience to take away a sense of dialogue and continuity, to understand that art is not a monologue, but a conversation between generations, times, and sensibilities. And, above all, to take away a feeling of shared freedom.”


Julio Figueroa Beltran, "Farewell Clouds", 2024, Oil on Canvas,60 x 80 inches

Reciprocity at Ascaso Gallery is not merely a tribute to a master. It is a testament to generosity, continuity, and artistic freedom — a living bridge between Julio Larraz and the voices he has helped to shape, now carrying the conversation forward in their own way.

Artists of Reciprocity

• Cooper Dragonette — Inspired by Larraz’s imaginative force; embraced freedom to paint what he feels and imagines.

• Reyner Ferrer — Draws on Larraz’s unrestrained creative drive to create from a freer, more honest place.

• Julio Figueroa Beltrán — Worked with Larraz for fifteen years; balances ambiguity and precision in poetic imagery.

• Nelson Halil — Shared experiments and studio time; learned to unite discipline and freedom in art.

• Maia Larraz — Learned that art is daily devotion, not performance, capturing spontaneity in her practice.

• Reinier Llanes — Considers Larraz mentor and role model; inspired by his extraordinary command of light and form.

• Heidy Love Larraz — Influenced by Larraz’s critiques and poetic approach to form and color.

• Edel Lugones — Finds inspiration in Larraz’s generosity of spirit and visual poetry.

• Leticia Sánchez Toledo — Inspired by Larraz’s generosity and humor since her 2010 studio visit.

• Jefreid Lotti — Apprenticed in his twenties; influenced by Larraz’s mastery of composition and imagination.

• Jojacne Téllez — Collaborated on bronzes since 2015; gained profound sculptural perspective.