08/21/2022
First Annual Studio Heroes Feature: Gloria M. Suárez-Castaño
Terés Charbel for StudioMTO, August 21st 2022.
[Portrait: Lady of the Light (2021), Carlos Arturo Castaño]
Gloria Castano Carlos Arturo Castano
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Gloria M. Suárez-Castaño has reached legendary status in the Spanish-speaking Americas for her multifaceted arts advocacy on behalf of other women and older adults, as you might be familiar through the Univisión television network. But, comparatively fewer people know her name in the English-speaking world. We wondered why and did the legwork for you so could join us in the discovery of this fascinating public figure.
Photographer, Curator, Educator, Writer, & Mentor
In the world of photography, perhaps what Suárez-Castaño's name is associated with most, she has created and modeled for award-winning portraits including, New Life (2015) and Lady of the Light (2021, featured in the video.) Suárez-Castaño is also cofounder and lead educator for mindfulness photography NGO Collective65, which is partnered with the University of Toronto. With the Gallery of Evoke Photography, she curated and produced immersive fine art experiences for collectors and enthusiasts featuring exceptional musical talent paired with hand-selected artifacts and paintings.
Something you may not know about Suárez-Castaño is her work in writing and publishing. In fact, Suárez-Castaño began her career in the arts as publishing manager for the famous Alberto Sierra, co-founder of the Museum of Modern Art Medellín (MAMM). Her work is also published by Toronto's Antares Publishing House, La Portada, and the Correo Canadiense newspaper.
As a mentor in Toronto, Suárez-Castaño's relationships with extraordinary individuals seem to radiate from a core of extraordinary and influential women who also empower their own respective communities. These other queens of culture include Dr. Margarita Feliciano (Argentinian author and publisher), Dr. Elizabeth Iturbe (Mexican art historian), Rosaria Russo (Italian operatic soprano), Rosa Cervantes (Mexican musician and psychologist), and the late Ana María Martínez Alfaro (entrepreneur). A legacy of initiatives has been born through these and other collaborations including publications, exhibitions, and the Aliddesa Women's Centre, an empowerment group for Hispanic women entrepreneurs.
Wife, Mother, & Family Member
Suárez-Castaño is very vocal about being a proud wife and mother, often celebrating the achievements of her husband and children; so, we had to investigate: who is the wife and mother behind the work? As a wife, Suárez-Castaño's partner in life and business is the talented Carlos Arturo Castaño, whose art she has widely produced in many exhibitions. As a mother, Suárez-Castaño has employed every facet of her being into the upbringing of her children, Simón and Mateo (who now goes by the name Orus). They fondly remember how their dynamic household centered multilingualism, community service, and the arts, all of which opened doors to fulfilling lifelong pursuits and careers. Raising a family takes the proverbial village, and considering that her siblings were all abroad, Suárez-Castaño took to action to ensure a rich social environment for her children and others. In order to do this she, co-founded a collective of Latin-American Spanish-speaking immigrant families named Interacción. This surrogate extended family provided a forum for personal and financial growth as well as a reassuring cultural structure for children and parents alike. As a way to serve as a unifying force for her extended family abroad, Suárez-Castaño spearheads a private historiographic initiative to capture and share diasporic experience, focusing on members displaced by war and conflict.
Suárez-Castaño seems to be consistently surrounded by exceptional talent anywhere she goes, and always catalyzes those around her toward success. We asked her what she would like to do next, since she has done so much, and she would like to focus on giving her time to developing her portraiture practice and giving back to the community as an educator. Suárez-Castaño is an amazing discovery among Canada's cultural leaders and we look forward to following her career in the future.
