Highlights
José Omar Torres (Matanzas, 1953). With strong artistic and professional development in engraving techniques, Torres goes deep into a chromatic universe where the City of Havana becomes an indispensable element for us to discover ourselves. City landscapes are reinterpreted over and over again by the artist, with an iconography that persists in revealing essences and connotations of living on a Caribbean island.
These cities stoically remaining standing as the years go on, are also recipients of symbols so recurring in his work: tropical fruit, the Havana Malecon, the pendulum that marks so much achievement, life paths, the vernacular architecture, etc.
Master of colour and light José Omar Torres has found ample acceptation on the international art market. Many of his works belong to private collections and institutions throughout the world.
Curriculum
JOSÉ OMAR TORRES LOPÉZ was born in the city of Matanzas, Cuba on February 1, 1953.
Member of the “Federación Internacional de Artistas Plásticos”, the National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC) and the Experimental Graphics Workshop.
Please note that I’ve left out punctuation because there is no set pattern in the original Spanish re: periods, commas, etc.
ART STUDIES
1968-73 National Art School (ENA)
1987-89 Studies in engraving at the Superior Art Institute (ISA)
1999 Artist in Residence, Brandywine Workshop, Philadelphia, USA
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
1973-1991 Engraving, painting, and drawing instructor in a variety of institutions.
1991- 2002 Director, Experimental Engraving Workshop, Havana
He has given courses at the: University of Antioquia, and the University of Santa Marta, Colombia; the Casa Nacional de Cultura, Quito, Ecuador; the Modern Art School, Gerlesborg , Vanersborgs Konstrgrafiska Verktad, Vanersborgs y Grafikverkstaden KKV, Bohuslan, Sweden, Norske Grafikeres Verksted, Oslo, Norway, and Gallery 31, FENIX Cultural Association, Stockholm, Sweden. Member of the jury, “The Young Illustrator” (La Joven Estampa) an international event sponsored by the Casa de las Americas in 2001.
SOLO EXPOSITIONS
1973 “TEMPERAS” L. Gallery, Havana, Cuba
1975 “LITHOGRAPHS” Hotel Gallery, Habana Libre Hotel, Havana, Cuba
1978 “GRAPHIC EXPERIMENTS” International Art Center Gallery, Havana
1979 “FROM THE PLACES” Casa de la Cultura Gallery, Plaza, Cuba
1984 “THREE WHO ARE NOT A TRIO” Havana Gallery, Cuba (with artists Daniel Torres and José Luis Posada)
1987 “PRESENCIAS” Gallery L., Cuba (with artists Daniel Torres and Roger Aguilar)
1989 RECENT ENGRAVINGS” Victor Manuel Gallery, Cuba
1991 “THE CITY OF COLUMNS” Alejo Carpenier Center, Cuba
1993 “RECURRENCES” José Omar Torres Oils. Acacia Gallery, Cuba
1994 “FROM THE MOUNTAIN TO THE CITY” Juglar Cultural Center, Mexico City
“PAINTINGS” Antioquia University Museum, Medellin, Colombia
1995 “AGAINST FORGETTING” Villa Panamericana Hotel, Cuba
“PAINTINGS AND ENGRAVINGS” Engraving Gallery, Experimental Graphics Workshop, Cuba
“PAINTINGS AND ENGRAVINGS” Santa Marta Cultural Institute, Colombia
José Omar Torres (Matanzas, 1953) is one of the artists ArtéSol Gallery represents and includes in its catalogue of high-resolution reproductions. With strong artistic and professional development in engraving techniques, Torres goes deep into a chromatic universe where the city of Havana becomes an indispensable element for us to discover ourselves. City landscapes, reinterpreted over and over again by the artist, with an iconography that persists in revealing essences and connotations of living in a Caribbean island.
These cities – that stoically remain standing as the years go on, are also recipients of symbols so recurring in his work such as tropical fruit, the Havana Malecon, the pendulum that marks so much achievement, goings-on in life, the vernacular architecture, etc.
Master of colour and light José Omar Torres has found ample acceptation in the international art market. Many of his works belong to private collections and institutions throughout the world.