Rufino Tamayo was a Mexican painter and muralist whose work diverged from the politically charged narratives of the Mexican muralist movement, instead emphasizing universal, spiritual, and cosmic themes. Born in Oaxaca, a region deeply rooted in Indigenous traditions, Tamayo's art blended elements of modernism, Surrealism, and pre-Hispanic symbolism.

Unlike his contemporaries Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, and David Alfaro Siqueiros—who focused on social and revolutionary themes—Tamayo sought to create a visual language that transcended national boundaries. His work frequently incorporated celestial motifs and mythological figures, reflecting an interest in the metaphysical dimensions of existence. Tamayo's deep appreciation for Mesoamerican culture led him to integrate Indigenous aesthetics with modern abstraction, a synthesis that positioned him as one of the most internationally celebrated Mexican artists of the 20th century.

Tamayo’s engagement with esoteric ideas was less explicit than that of Rivera or Montenegro, yet his fascination with cosmic forces and the spiritual resonance of color aligns his work with esoteric traditions. His later paintings, particularly those created in the 1970s and 1980s, reveal a transformative use of pigment and light, evoking transcendental experiences through abstraction and texture.