Gabriel Nieto is probably one of the most suggestive, and with the greatest sincerity and freshness. At this time his work revolves around folkloric expression, Nativism. Mainly influenced by Noé León Henry Arias, but with his own style that he recovers with marvelous grace, with the emphasis and joy that corresponds to his plastic needs, it is the message of a deliciously plastic Colombian. Thematically the rural and peaceful world that one day we lived and that we long for today, Maestro Nieto captures in a magical, surreal way, because without a doubt the multi-colored kites or kites with which children play in all his primitivist works that characterize his joyful and nostalgic spirit, as well as the fascinating idiosyncrasy of the peasant characters and the colonial architecture, make possible suitable ideas to be visualized in a primitive climate. As a painting, it spontaneously transforms the visible reality of people and things into magical realism, blurring the boundaries between truth and myth, between reality and fantasy. Whoever comes close to the work of Gabriel Nieto will contemplate it (as required) carefully and with pleasure, to discover in it, in those tiny and different figures that populate it, the peasants in their manual labor, the festivals and public rejoicings, the Sunday market, the political demonstration, the arrival of the circus; the kites, the butterflies, the priest, vegetable carts and grocery awnings, animals, and even the village priest...
By Carlos Lozada Alvarez
art critic
Mexico