Featured image: Eyes on the Coyote Big Bear CA, Greta Benavides, 2024, watercolor, 16.5 x 12.5 in. / 42 x 31.75 cm.
Greta Benavides' artwork is a vibrant blend of observation, cultural storytelling, and apocalyptic imagery.
Greta Benavides is a multimedia artist whose work blends watercolor and textile to explore cultural narratives, rural life, and apocalyptic themes with striking visual storytelling.
Using both watercolor and textiles, her pieces explore the simple joys of rural life, historical narratives, and the grand chaos of existence. Each piece invites the viewer to reflect on the intersections of daily routine, mythology, and impending turmoil.
Explore our curated selection of contemporary artists from around the globe.
Naturalist Gallery offers artist representation internationally. Apply your art.
Emmy Observes Life in Tonay Mexico, Greta Benavides, 2024, watercolor, 16.5 x 12.5 in. / 42 x 31.75 cm.
In Emmy Observes Life in Tonaya, Mexico (2024), Benavides presents a peaceful yet reflective scene of rural life. A dog, Emmy, curiously watches over a fenced pasture where horses graze amid agave plants. The watercolor technique lends a soft, dreamlike quality to the landscape, emphasizing warmth and tranquility. The contrast between the vibrant greenery and distant mountains suggests a connection between nature and time, a quiet moment where the past and present coexist in harmony.
Armageddon, Greta Benavides, 2024, textile, 74 x 101 in. / 187.96 x 256.54 cm.
Switching from watercolor to textile, Armageddon (2024) is a dramatic departure into apocalyptic chaos. A sprawling tapestry in red, gold, and black, the piece conveys a sense of urgency and destruction. A central figure on horseback charges forward as celestial forces—depicted in jagged golden streaks—loom overhead. The fabric medium adds texture and dimension, turning this into both a visual and tactile experience. The work evokes themes of reckoning, transformation, and the cyclical nature of history and conflict.
Tonaya Jalisco Waiting for the Uber, Greta Benavides, 2024, watercolor, 12 x 16 in. / 30.48 x 40.64 cm.
Returning to watercolor, Tonaya Jalisco Waiting for the Uber (2024) offers a humorous yet poignant slice of contemporary rural life. A white dog stands on a dusty path as a tuk-tuk-style Uber zips past an agave field. The juxtaposition of modern transportation and a timeless agricultural setting suggests an intersection of tradition and modernity. Benavides’ delicate brushstrokes and soft color palette create a sense of nostalgia while also acknowledging the inevitable changes in rural communities.
Greta Benavides masterfully explores contrasting themes—serene rural life, mythological upheaval, and cultural transformation—through her dynamic use of watercolor and textile. Whether capturing the everyday beauty of a small Mexican town or depicting the chaos of an apocalyptic event, her work resonates with a sense of movement and history. By blending observation with imagination, Benavides’ art invites viewers to reflect on the connections between past, present, and the uncertain future.
Learn more About Naturalist Gallery of Contemporary Art.
Life in Tonaya Mexico, Greta Benavides, 2024, acrylic, 20 x 16 in. / 50.8 x 40.64 cm.
You may also find the following articles helpful:
The 14 Essential Artists of Impressionism
Expressionism: 20 Iconic Paintings & Their Artists
Renaissance Art: Origins, Influences, and Key Figures
Classical Art Movement: Exploring the History, Artists, and Artworks
Figurative Art: Understanding, Collecting, and Appreciating the Style
Daily Routines of Famous Artists: Learn from the Masters
Top 12 Controversial Artworks That Changed Art History