Born 1903 in Piedras negras - Mexico. Died 1975 in Del Rio Texas - USA.
Chelo Amezcua was ten years old when her family immigrated to Del Rio in Texas. She spent the rest of her life there. Despite the family living in modest conditions, her parents paid great attention to the education of the children. In 1930 the Mexican government granted her a scholarship at San Carlos Academy in Mexico City. The death of her father, however, prevented her from taking part in this project. She began working as a clerk in a local department store. In her free time she drew and wrote poems. She never married and after the death of her mother continued to live in her family home.
Gradually she became respected in the local community and famous for her "filigree art" - maze-like illustrations, inspired by Mexican jewelry. In 1956 she began carving stone shells. From 1961 Amezcua focused on intricate drawings on paper or cardboard, created with black ballpoint pen, to which she added Indian ink of different colours. Her technique is close to automatic drawings ; incidentally, she called her works "mental drawings". She was inspired by Mexican myths, pre-Colombian culture, her Gods and kings (the king Netzalhualcóyotl). She also incorporated birds, flowers, maze-like architectures, starry skies, beautiful women. The theme of hands appears repeatedly in her works.