One to Watch

Paul Fuentes’s Fantastical Photography

Mexican artist Paul Fuentes brings fantasy to life in his glamorous photographs. Now based in London, Paul has shown his work at The Other Art Fair since 2021. Keep reading to explore Paul’s pastel animal kingdom.

Tell us about who you are and what you do. What’s your background?

I’m Paul Fuentes, known for my Pop Art mashups and creative fine art photography featuring surrealistic shots in dreamy places. I grew up in Mexico City, where I began creating images for fun and sharing them on Instagram. As my work gained popularity, I started selling my designs. Their success allowed me to leave my job as a magazine editor and fully dedicate myself to my passion, creating and selling my artwork independently.
In 2018, I moved to London, which opened up new opportunities, such as collaborating with galleries and participating in prestigious art fairs like The Other Art Fair.

What does your work aim to say? What are the major themes you pursue in your work?

In my photography, you’ll find classic cars, mid-century architecture, and wild animals chilling by the pool, oozing with mid-century nostalgia and endless summers. The unique Palm Springs architecture and big cats have become my signature style. One of my favorite works is ‘Tiger Motel’ where it all came together. Tiger Motel is a joyful scene of a tiger on top of a classic car in front of a Californian motel—without missing my pastel color palette!

Can you walk us through your process for creating a work from beginning to end?

I love to see the world through a colorful lens. While I don’t consider myself a very technical photographer, I rely heavily on the magic of Photoshop. During shoots, I’m quite speedy because I know I can fix things in post-production. Each photograph is a multi-layered image, composed of many separate elements that I bring together to create one cohesive work of art. The most time is spent on retouching. I can spend days on details like shadows, drawing hairs, and color balance.

Who are your biggest influences, and why?

One of my biggest influences and inspirations comes from Slim Aarons, an American photographer well known for his images of socialites, jetsetters, and celebrities. Aarons documented the never-before-seen lives of celebrities and socialites in their Mediterranean holiday homes and behind the scenes of Beverly Hills afterparties. Aarons loved photographing “beautiful people in beautiful places, doing beautiful things.” In my work, I love to capture beautiful animals in beautiful places!

How does your work comment on current social and political issues?

The nostalgic jetsetter lifestyle of the 1950s and 1960s influences my work. It resonates with modern times on social media, where things are often exaggerated or manipulated to distort reality—we live in an era of showing off. Another interesting link is the intersection of culture and nature, as wildlife tries to survive in a human-dominated world by adapting and taking over.

How do you hope viewers respond to your works? What do you want them to feel?

I studied graphic design, and it’s a real passion of mine, so chances are I’d still be working in editorial design. I’ve also got a strong musical side; I played drums in a band for many years, so music could have easily been another path for me.

Do you prefer to work with music or in silence?

Music is my constant companion whenever I’m not doing emails or other focused tasks. I’m deeply attuned to what’s playing, whether I’m immersing myself in lyrics or tracing the melody of a single instrument. From timeless classics to the latest hits, every day has its own vibe that I groove to.