Eduardo
Urbano
Merino

(born October 8, 1975, Mexico City) is a Mexican painter, sculptor, and muralist whose work explores the intersection of figurative art, science, and human perception.

He studied at the historic Academy of San Carlos in Mexico City, where he excelled in human anatomy, composition, and painting techniques. His artistic formation was deeply influenced by classical masters such as Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Michelangelo, Bernini, and Dalí, from whom he developed a rigorous technical foundation that continues to inform his practice.

During the early years of his career, Urbano’s work was primarily figurative, at times approaching hyperrealism. Over time, his mastery of the human figure, perspective, and spatial structure became defining elements of his visual language.

His work has been exhibited in prominent cultural institutions in Mexico, including the Asamblea Legislativa de la Ciudad de México, the Congress of the Union, the Soumaya Museum, and the Castillo de Chapultepec, as well as in exhibitions across Europe and Canada. His artistic production is widely recognized for incorporating scientific themes, particularly those related to medicine and the human condition.

Since the beginning of his career, Urbano has actively participated in art auctions supporting humanitarian and social causes. In recognition of his altruistic work, he was awarded the Peace Medal of the Arts by Rigoberta Menchú on December 10, 2003.

In 2012, he participated in a major charity auction held at the Soumaya Museum for Proyecto TAM, an initiative aimed at providing shoes to children in rural communities in Mexico. His artwork achieved the highest sale price of the event, contributing significantly to the project’s fundraising goals.

That same year, Urbano was commissioned to create a monumental 5 x 10 meter oil painting mural commemorating the Bicentennial of Mexican Independence. The work was installed in a public space in the State of Hidalgo, Mexico. He was also commissioned to create a commemorative sculpture for the 30th anniversary of the Mexican College of Rheumatology. The sculpture, titled Esperanza y Plenitud (Hope and Fulfillment), was unveiled on October 13, 2013, at the Castillo de Chapultepec and is now part of the institution’s permanent collection.

In 2011, he created the bronze sculpture La Justicia (Justice), measuring 2.06 meters in height. Reinterpreting classical iconography, the piece received recognition from law schools in Canada, England, and the United States.

Urbano’s engagement with medical science reached an international level in 2013 with the painting Epilepsia, dejando atrás la pesadilla (Epilepsy: Leaving Behind the Nightmare), created for the Royal University Hospital in Canada. The work was central to a fundraising campaign that successfully raised CAD $100,000 to acquire specialized video-EEG equipment for epilepsy research. The painting was exhibited during the International Epilepsy Congress in Montreal and featured in scientific publications, including Epilepsy & Behavior. It was also referenced by PubMed and the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).

The original painting remains on permanent display at the Royal University Hospital, accompanied by a commemorative plaque.

In March 2014, Urbano was invited to present a lecture on his work at the School of Art and Art History at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, at the Gordon Snelgrove Gallery.

In subsequent years, Urbano has produced additional works addressing medical and social issues, including a painting focused on morbid obesity for a public awareness project in the United States. This work is held in a permanent exhibition at a specialized medical clinic.

In late 2023, Urbano presented a solo exhibition at the Senate of the Republic of Mexico in Mexico City. The exhibition was inaugurated by Senator Kenia López Rabadán and attended by prominent public figures, including Senator Xóchitl Gálvez Ruiz—then the opposition candidate for the Presidency of Mexico—journalist and senator Lilly Téllez, and renowned Mexican actress Laura Zapata as a special guest.

In early 2024, he presented another major institutional exhibition at the Chamber of Deputies of the H. Congreso de la Unión. The opening was accompanied by distinguished guests, including renowned Mexican actor Luis Felipe Tovar, and Deputies Teresa Castell and Margarita Zavala, who served as honorary sponsors of the inauguration. This exhibition further consolidated Urbano’s presence within Mexico’s national cultural and institutional landscape.

Eduardo Urbano Merino is considered part of a contemporary generation of Mexican figurative artists. His work is held in private collections in more than sixteen countries, and he has participated in over forty exhibitions in Mexico, Europe, and Canada. He has also created several large-scale murals for private commissions and has lectured at cultural institutions and universities in Mexico and abroad.

Paintings