Name: Mardo Ureta
Age: 41
Title: Sculptor & Welder
Married/Single: Married
Kids: A beautiful daughter, a not too shabby looking son, and a beautiful daughter-in-law.
City you live in: Avondale
A typical day in my life includes…
depending on what is going on, I’m usually working on my art or heading to a job site.
I was born…
in Sonorita, Mexico.
My favorite thing about Arizona…
like Lady Gaga says in her song, “that Arizona sky!”
I’m listening to…
oldies but goodies in both Spanish and English.
My family…
is THE most important thing to me. Without my wife, my artwork wouldn’t be possible. My children have been next to me every step of the way, including covering shifts at art festivals to working full time in order to cover the household needs.
If I could have dinner with anyone, it would be…
any Shark Tank investor! Not only have they all worked their way from the bottom up, but they also seem to be very knowledgeable.
One thing I cannot live without…
definitely my wife and kids. I’m so lucky to have their support so I can create my artwork. I have spoken to so many artists and they have told me how much they wish they had the support I have. This is not an easy job or market and they’ve been there every step of the way.
When I was younger, I wanted to be…
in the U.S. I wasn’t a very fortunate kid and my only dream was to come here to live. I never really thought about what I wanted to be, and I was never told to think about being something in the future. So, that’s the best way to answer that question.
I’m inspired by…
many things. I’m a true believer in the Bible. The past truly inspires me to do better in every aspect including my family, my art and as a person. In fact, animals also inspire me. That’s why my art is of animals because they are truly a beautiful creation of our God.
The one person who motivates me is…
my wife. She works so hard, pushes me to be better and helps me figure out what is next. She’ll even give me a speech when I feel as though things aren’t going the way I want. She never allows me to give up. My wife is a true motivation.
If I could change anything in the world, it would be…
the hate there is out in this world. If we stop to think about everything horrible that has happened in this world, hate is responsible for the root of it all. Only hate moves people to hurt animals, children or people in general. Hate is all the evil that is out there.
The perfect day would be…
my wife and I speak about this regularly and we always say the same thing. The perfect day would be waking up, going to the gym or on a long hike, coming home to read, watching a movie, having dinner and then relaxing with a strong margarita.
My first job was…
landscaping when we bought our first home. We wanted to make our bushes into the shapes of animals, and I think that was the start of art in our head.
My favorite escape…
anything that is fun! A movie, bowling and I recently discovered why people like golf, so I’m adding it to this list. If I can do it with my family and good friends, I’m happy with it.
My life…
is perfectly imperfect, which is something my wife said she heard in a movie. I’m truly happy. We all want to better ourselves and never give up on dreams. I don’t know where life is taking me, but if my wife and kids are with me, I’m good.
I’m currently working on…
a big surprise! My wife and I have been working on something brand new. We are excited and know that it’s going to blow your mind. We’ve been working on it for a while in order to perfect it, just the way I want. Follow us on Instagram to stay in the know.
Always…
be kind. We need more kindness in this world.
Never…
put anything or anyone before family. You never know how long you or a loved one will be with you. I’ve seen that people assume that their wife or child will be here forever and that’s just not the case nowadays. NEVER let anyone or anything come between you and your family.
Favorite Quote…
“Only time will tell.” It covers everything. We really don’t know what’s to come. So, we must sit back, keep on going and pray for the best.
Biggest Dream…
to travel with my family, so we can see everything this world has to offer together. I love seeing new places and seeing their reactions to new things. Also, retiring early sounds nice. Even though I know I’d never really stop, I’d love to be able to just work on my art.
My Pet Peeve(s)…
when people want me to change my art. It’s called art for a reason. Everyone makes it their own and people either love it or it’s just not their cup of tea. There is always someone saying, “Oh you shouldn’t do it that way or you should do this, not that.” We study the animals, talk about the piece before it’s sketched out and really think about what I want it to look like. With all due respect, I won’t put out a piece if I don’t feel it’s right. Don’t get me wrong, I really appreciate the feedback, however, there’s a difference between feedback and telling an artist their art isn’t “right”. If that were the case it wouldn’t be the artist’s art, it’d be someone asking a talented person to make them what they want.
More about Mardo…
Mardo Ureta is the owner of Innovation Sculptures where he makes beautiful works of art out of old car parts, washing machine parts or whatever he can find. He truly turns one man’s junk into another man’s treasure. You can see his work at the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show at WestWorld of Scottsdale Feb. 13-23, 2020.
