Born in Guatemala City, Guatemala in 1891, Merida spent his first ten years in Carlos Mérida (1891–1984) was a Guatemalan-born artist whose career bridged the artistic cultures of Central America, Europe, Mexico, and the United States. Born in Guatemala City in 1891, he spent his early years in Guatemala before traveling to Europe, where he lived in Paris for several years and encountered leading avant-garde artists of the period, including Pablo Picasso, Amedeo Modigliani, and Kees van Dongen. During this time he witnessed firsthand the emergence of modern art and absorbed many of its stylistic innovations.

Returning to Guatemala in 1914, Mérida sought to promote indigenous culture through art. He briefly collaborated with sculptor Yela Gunther in an effort to launch a movement highlighting native traditions. Later relocating to Mexico, Mérida found a broader audience for his folk-inspired paintings and became associated with the Mexican mural movement. He collaborated with architect Mario Pani on projects including a mural for the Secretaría de Recursos Hidráulicos, where he became increasingly interested in the concept of “plastic integration,” the seamless fusion of art and architecture. One of his most ambitious projects, a large mural for the Benito Juárez Housing Project in Mexico City, was later destroyed during the 1985 Mexico City earthquake. 

In 1932, Mérida partnered with Mexican artist Carlos Orozco Romero to help establish the Secretariat of Public Education’s School of Dance. For the school he painted a series of ballet scenes that reflected his enduring interest in rhythm, movement, and the visual interpretation of music and dance.

A truly international artist, Mérida forged cultural and artistic links between Guatemala, Paris, Mexico, and the United States. His work is represented in numerous major collections, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Dallas Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art in São Paulo, and the Museo de Arte Moderno in Caracas.