Today we’d like to introduce you to Josue Gutierrez.
Hi Josue, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Mexico, but it was in the United States that I began to understand who I was becoming as an artist.
My name is Josue Gutiérrez Espinosa. I am the founder and curator of Gtz Art Gallery in Dallas.
My background is in business and international trade. When I arrived in Dallas, I began to recognize myself as an artist. That discovery transformed the way I saw myself and understood my place in the world.
I began painting as a self-taught artist, guided by the need to express something I could not yet name. Painting became a way to recognize myself and give form to what I could not always explain through words.
Many people believed in me before I was able to fully believe in myself. Their trust taught me the importance of persistence and determination, even in moments of doubt.
Curiosity has also guided my process. I have found that when something captures my attention, I move toward it—not simply to see it, but to understand it.
Gtz Art Gallery was born from the need to share my vision. It is a gallery in constant evolution, guided by listening, care, and close relationships with artists while remaining free from a fixed formula.
The gallery has become a space where visual art, design, fashion, and culture can meet, with each discipline presented with intention and integrity.
Gtz is also rooted in a story I share with my husband, Steven.
When I first imagined the gallery, Steven was by my side. His trust was fundamental in transforming an idea into something real. Since then, the gallery has also become an expression of our life together—of the conversations, decisions, and convictions we share.
As a Mexican artist, I understand the gallery as a bridge between places that are both part of my own history. Through our International Exhibition Program, we seek to expand the visibility of contemporary artists from Mexico and connect their work with new audiences and collectors within the Dallas art community.
Rather than reducing Mexico to a singular image, the gallery brings together distinct perspectives that reflect its complexity, contradictions, and plurality.
Through this process, I have learned that being an artist and being a curator do not represent two distinct identities. Both come from the same curiosity, the same sensitivity, and the same desire to create space for others.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not always been a smooth road. One of the greatest challenges has been learning how to understand, communicate, and stand behind a vision clearly enough for others to trust it.
When developing collaborations, it can be difficult to ask people to believe in something that is still taking shape—something they may not yet be able to see as clearly as you do. Before others can trust a vision, you must first learn how to articulate it and stand behind it with confidence.
Building Gtz has therefore been a process of learning not only about business, but also about myself. The more deeply I understand who I am and what I believe in, the more clearly I can express the gallery’s purpose and direction. That self-knowledge has helped me build trust, develop stronger relationships, and remain committed to creating a gallery that feels honest, intentional, and continually evolving.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am proud to be creating the kind of space I once wished existed.
I am an artist and the founder of Gtz Art Gallery in Dallas. I specialize in painting, primarily working with mixed media to explore identity, vulnerability, transformation, and human connection. I am known both for directing the gallery and for presenting my own work as an artist.
That purpose is reflected in what Gtz is becoming: a platform where artists from both the United States and Mexico feel seen, represented, and confident sharing their work. Knowing that these artists trust the gallery’s vision—and trust me to present their work with care—is one of the greatest honors of what I do.
What sets me apart is that I understand the exhibition experience from both sides. As an artist, I understand the vulnerability involved in placing your work in someone else’s hands. As a curator, I carry the responsibility of honoring that trust and creating a context in which each artist’s work can be understood, valued, and connected with a wider community.
How do you think about happiness?
It brings me great happiness to see ideas that once existed only in my mind becoming a reality—and to watch artistic communities embrace and contribute to that vision.
I am also continually inspired by the people I am meeting through this journey. Being able to exchange thoughts, visions, goals, and creative ideas with others has opened my world in unexpected ways. There is inspiration everywhere, and every conversation gives me another opportunity to learn and grow.
I also find happiness in recognizing the person I am becoming and in knowing that this journey continues to transform me.
One of the most important things I have learned about happiness is the importance of enjoying the entire process. We often focus so intensely on a goal that we convince ourselves happiness will begin once we reach it. What I am learning is that happiness is not waiting at the end—it is found in the process itself.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @josuegtz @Gtz_artgallery
