Carlos Sánchez Mendoza (Toluca, 1908–1976) studied under Fermín Revueltas at the School of Painting and Sculpture in La Villa, as well as at the Academia de San Carlos (Academy of San Carlos) and in New York, where he specialized in advertising. In 1924, he began his career as an apprentice at El Heraldo de México (Herald of Mexico). In 1948, he exhibited at the Círculo de Bellas Artes (Fine Arts Circle), and in 1949, he became one of the founding members of the Salón de la Plástica Mexicana (Salon of Mexican Fine Arts), alongside artists such as Olga Costa, José Reyes Meza, Rufino Tamayo, Diego Rivera, and Frida Kahlo, among others. His deeply captivating work portrays the nightlife of Mexico City’s outskirts: the neighborhoods, the figure of the pachuco, cabaret performers, and tent show clowns. For this reason, Jorge Juan Crespo de la Serna referred to him as the "painter of the Mexican night."

His first solo exhibition was held in 1951 at the Salón de la Plástica Mexicana, where he also presented the 1956 show titled Viacrucis de Iztapalapa. He was also a respected illustrator for various publications, most notably Revista de Revistas.