early life and training maría izquierdo rodríguez, a pioneering mexican painter, was born on october 30, 1902, in san juan de los lagos, jalisco, mexico. her life's trajectory would eventually lead her to become the first mexican woman to have her artwork exhibited in the united states. this trailblazer committed her life and career to painting art that proudly displayed her mexican roots, holding her own among famous mexican male artists like diego rivera, josé clemente orozco, and david alfaro siqueiros. escuela nacional de bellas artes (academy of fine arts), where she began studying in ja…