Luis Zárate was born in 1951 in Santa Catarina Cuanana, Oaxaca. Although he earned a degree in Industrial Engineering, Zárate remained dedicated to drawing and painting, ultimately developing his artistic practice as a self-taught painter. His visual language was shaped by the work of fellow Oaxacan artists Rufino Tamayo, Francisco Toledo, and Rodolfo Nieto, whose expressive styles and cultural themes strongly influenced his approach.

In 1970, Luis Zárate presented his first solo exhibition at the former Convent of Santo Domingo in Oaxaca. Four years later, he won a scholarship through an industrial design competition, allowing him to study in Paris. During his 14-year stay in France, Zárate trained at the École nationa...