John & Stacey Standing in front of a large wall reproduction of Jose Posada's 'Katrina' at the enterance of 'The Mummy Museum' in Guanajuato, Mexico.

'Los Muertos' art is all inspired by the beautiful celebration of 'Dia de los Muertos' or 'Day of the Dead'. Our artwork represents and speaks from the same places of beauty and power that this holiday was built from.  'Los Muertos' art is meant to show life and death as one eternal entity.  You cannot have one without the other.  In understanding death, as a part of life, you can embrace and accept it rather than fear it.  It also encompasses the belief that our souls are eternal, and that each new birth or death is simply another stage in our soul journey. 

The symbol of the skeleton or skull is used to signify death and rebirth.  Instead of fearing death, through these symbols it is celebrated, embraced and considered to be a "moving-on" to a higher level of consciousness.

People often compare Dia de los Muertos to Halloween.  While at first glance they may appear to be similar, in truth, the two celebrations are completely different.  Halloween is a European holiday that is based on their concept of death.  Dia de los Muertos is a Mexican holiday which is celebrated in order to remember and honor the lives of their "passed-on" loved ones. 

Dia de los Muertos was originated by the Aztecs.  Their beliefs coincided with those of the Australian Aborigines.  Both tribes considered life to be a dream, and when you die, you awake to your real life.  Halloween in comparison is celebrated through symbols of witches, demons and monsters, none of which are ever portrayed in a positive light.

Dia de los Muertos is traditionally celebrated on November 1st and 2nd throughout Mexico and the Southwestern United States.  In celebration, Dia de los Muertos altars are created. Upon them, pictures of the deceased are placed, along with many favorite foods, drinks, and activities the deceased cherished while they were alive.  Candles are lit which decorate the altars and graveyards to light the soul's way back home for this beautiful reunion.  Trinkets and gifts these souls were fond of during life, are brought to communicate to the deceased  that they are still very alive in the hearts of those they left behind. The beauty of the lives they lived will continue to be remembered with joy, even though they no longer share in the same 'physical' reality.