In his sun-filled Cuernavaca apartment surrounded by brushes, pastels, and canvases, 102-year-old Guillermo Monroy is living proof that artistic passion never ages. Born on January 7, 1924, this remarkable painter continues creating art with the same enthusiasm he felt as a young student nearly nine decades ago.

"I always have new ideas, but when I am working, I do what the painting asks of me, like a water spring that flows slowly," Monroy shares with infectious joy. "It will go away, but it will never end. I do feel tired, but when I'm there... it's so beautiful I feel like I'm in elementary school again."

Monroy's journey began in Tlalpujahua, Michoacán, where his family faced economic hardship after local mines dried up. In the late 1920s, his parents Sabás Monroy and Ignacia Becerril brought their ten children to Mexico City with nothing but hope. That optimism paid off beautifully when his father found both work and housing within hours, demonstrating the resilient spirit that Guillermo would carry throughout his life.

The family's move to Colonia Guerrero placed young Guillermo near La Esmeralda art school, where his destiny awaited. At sixteen, despite needing to work to support his family, Guillermo's father encouraged him to follow his passion. "Don't worry. We will always have some beans for you here. Do as you like," his father told him, offering a gift more valuable than money: permission to pursue his dreams.

That decision opened doors to an extraordinary education. Monroy studied under legendary artists including Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, becoming one of the treasured "Fridos" – Kahlo's four devoted students. When Kahlo's health challenges limited her teaching at La Esmeralda, her students suggested outdoor sessions. Four students showed up faithfully: Fanny Rabel, Arturo García Bustos, Arturo Estrada, and Guillermo Monroy. They became not just students but family to both Frida and Diego.

Kahlo introduced them to mural art, igniting another lifelong passion for Monroy. He collaborated with Rivera on magnificent stone-mosaic murals at Anahuacalli and later created his own elemental mural representing earth at Centro SCOP.

But Monroy didn't keep this gift to himself. He dedicated decades to teaching, starting at Secundaria 1 in Mexico City before moving to regional schools in Chiapas, Acapulco, and eventually Morelos. His mission was beautiful in its generosity: decentralizing culture and bringing art education to communities throughout Mexico.

Now, after six decades in Cuernavaca, Monroy continues his quest to find beauty in everything and everyone. His apartment brims with colorful works and art supplies, including a large blank canvas awaiting transformation into a gift for his son, renowned musician Guillermo Diego.

At 102, Monroy embodies the transformative power of following one's passion and the timeless nature of creativity. His story reminds us that with determination, support, and love for what we do, we can create beauty at any age and inspire generations to come.