Martha Ochoa

"Virgen del Pueblo" Cusco School Style Depiction of Virgin Mary by Martha Ochoa

Martha Ochoa was born in Cusco, Peru, the Archaeological Capital of America and a World Heritage site. She studied at Santa Ana School, the Cusco School of Fine Arts, and San Antonio Abad University, focusing on design, architecture, methodology, and pedagogy, along with restoration and related fields. She is the granddaughter of two renowned Peruvian artists: her great-great-grandfather, Francisco Olazo, a founder of the Cusco School of Fine Arts who mastered Impressionism in Paris with Andean landscapes, and her great-grandfather, Ernesto Olazo, a famous sculptor known for his architectural masterpiece, an 80-foot-tall figure of "The Christ" overlooking Cusco. Influenced by the Cusco School, she transitioned purely religious themes into more decorative renditions of Archangels and Madonnas, incorporating luxurious dresses and motifs from Peruvian colonial times. Her work is displayed in private homes, palaces, and presidential residences, showcasing her passion for Peruvian landscapes and admiration for the Cusco School. The Cusco School, a significant Peruvian artistic period of the 17th century, saw indigenous artists surpass their European teachers, blending cultures in a globally admired style. Notable artists of this period include Diego Quispe Tito, Basilio Santa Cruz, and Miguel Baca, who exhibited his work worldwide.