Anado McLauchlin: Color as a way of life

Color is life, because a world without color appears dead to us.
Colors are primordial ideas, the children of light.

—Johannes Itten

Art, in all its forms, always finds a soul to accompany it. Anado McLauchlin was one of those artists whose work—full of color, life, and magic—is not only interesting, but transformative. Those who knew him or visited his creative universe in San Miguel de Allende know that he was no ordinary artist: he was a master of color and freedom.

Anado McLauchlin was born on May 24, 1947, as James Rayburn McLauchlin III in Oklahoma, United States. His father, a doctor, described him as a “hippie punk.” He worked as a taxi driver and traveled to India, where he lived for eleven years and became a disciple of Osho, who renamed him Anado, which means “silence” in Sanskrit.

In Marin, California, he worked as a landscape designer, drawing inspiration from his physical and spiritual travels. He later moved to San Francisco and New York, where he spoke out for LGBTQ+ rights. In 1998, in a redwood forest in California, he met Richard Schultz, who would become his life partner.

In 2001, Anado and Richard arrived in Mexico and settled in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato. There they created La Casa de las Ranas (The House of Frogs) in La Cieneguita, along with The Chapel of Jimmy Ray gallery, named in honor of Anado’s father, James Raymond. This space houses works by both Anado and other artists.

La Casa de las Ranas is a space where religious and cultural symbols intertwine freely. One example is the “Guadalupenized Ganesh,” a fusion of the Virgin of Guadalupe and the Hindu deity Ganesh.

This place is the purest reflection of Anado’s creative spirit: every corner is imbued with color, vibration, symbols, and energy, from the inside out. It is also known for the opening parties of the Chapel of Jimmy Ray and the exhibitions held there. During the day, tourists, artists, musicians, and curious visitors are welcomed by Anado and Richard with hospitality and joy.

Anado’s soul was reflected in how he lived and everything around him: his art, his friends, his way of life, his charisma, and his iconic image.

Anado’s works are characterized by an unrestricted color palette. There are no rules: stairs, walls, fountains, windows, doors, niches, chairs, handrails… everything can be transformed by his artistic vision.

Among his influences are Antoni Gaudí, master of mosaic and organicism, and Niki de Saint Phalle, French sculptor and painter.

More information about his life and work, as well as texts and photographs of the space he created, can be found on his website. In his “artist statement,” Anado wrote:

“I am not trying to change the world… I am using my art as a vehicle for exploration and inclusion in this big old world.”

Anado McLauchlin passed away at the age of 74 on April 4, 2021, at his home in San Miguel de Allende. But his energy, creativity, and unique vision live on in every corner of La Casa de las Ranas.

The Chapel of Jimmy Ray, his gallery, is much more than an exhibition space: it is an extension of his spirit, a permanent celebration of art, diversity, and imagination. This place preserves and shares not only his work, but also that of other artists who, like him, understand color as a way of life.

Anado was much more than an artist: he was a luminous being who turned his existence into art. Today, his legacy continues to grow, and his home remains a must-see for those seeking inspiration, color, and beauty in the heart of Guanajuato.