The Círculo del Arte Collection
An Art Collecting Initiative
July 2012
Collection I
Curator:
Haydée Venegas
Art Critic and Art Historian Haydee Venegas-Ávila (1950-2011) was an arts manager, treasurer
of the International Association of Art Critics (AICA) in Puerto Rico, and Vice-President of AICA
International. She worked as a curator and participated as a juror at the Caribbean Biennial in
the Dominican Republic, The Paiz Art Biennial in Guatemala, and the First Art Biennial in
Honduras in 2006. Since 1993, Venegas taught Art History at the Escuela de Artes Plásticas in
Puerto Rico. She also worked as International Adviser at the Museum of Contemporary Art in
Kuramoto (Japan) and for the first edition of the Singapore Biennale. From 1980 to 1987, she
was Assistant/Curator at the Museo de Arte in Ponce.
Participating Artists:
Víctor Vázquez
Carlos Cancio
Rafael Trelles
María de Mater O’Neill
Susana Espinosa
Melquíades Rosario
Bernardo Hogan
Figure 1.
Carlos Cancio, 1961
San Juan, Puerto Rico
The Offering, 2006
(Fiberglass on volcanic rock)
15 "x 12" x 4 "
Figure 2.
Susana Espinosa, 1931
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Head, 2007
(Bronze)
8 ½ "x 3 ¼" x 11/8”
Bernardo Hogan, 1921
Figure 3.
Bernardo Hogan, 1921
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Winged Vase, 2006
(Ceramic, enamel and rust)
Figure 4.
Melquiades Rosario, 1953
Morovis, Puerto Rico
Implement, 2007
(Wood)
8 3/16 x 15 x 5”
Figure 5.
Víctor Vazquez, 1948
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Homage to Ana Mendieta, 2003
(Digital Color Photography)
15 x 15”
Figure 6.
María de Mater O'Neill, 1960
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Enable Blue [Flat Mode], 2006
(Commercial printing using Pantone
metallic paint)
8.5 x 12.5 "
Figure 7.
Rafael Trelles, 1957
Santurce, Puerto Rico
Urban graphics on concrete in Museo de Arte de Ponce, 2006
(Digital photography in color, includes DVD Documentary)
9.3 x 13 "
Collection II
Curator:
Haydée Venegas
Participating artists:
Antonio Martorell
Arnaldo Roche-Rabell
Carmelo Sobrino
Eddie Ferraioli
Toni Hambleton
Jaime Suárez
Charles Juhasz-Alvarado
Jorge Zeno
Figure 8.
Toni Hambleton, 1934
Mexico City, Mexico
Moon, 2006
(Bronze)
11 x 5 x 2.5 "
Figure 9.
Charles Juhasz-Alvarado, 1968
Base military en Filipinas
Melanerpes Portoricencis (on hammer)
2008
(PVC resin and wood of Guaiacum)
13 x 6 ½ x 4 "
Figure 10.
Arnaldo Roche Rabell, 1955
Santurce, Puerto Rico
Band of Brothers, 2008
(Digital Print on watercolor paper)
13 ½ x 11 "”
Figure 11.
Eddie Ferraioli, 1950
Santurce, Puerto Rico
Amulet, 2008
(Glass in gold and black)
3¼"
Figure 12.
Jorge Zeno, 1956
Washington, DC
Drawings in Madrid: An Intimate Visit, 2009
(Digital print on paper, bound by hand)
6x4¼"
Figure 13.
Antonio Martorell, 1939
San Juan, Puerto Rico
The Many Skins of the Caribbean, 2008
(Linen)
12 x 12”
Figure 14.
Jaime Suárez, 1946
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Stratified Landscape,
2008
(Barrografía)
Handmade.
10 x 2”
Figure 15.
Carmelo Sobrino, 1948
Manatí, Puerto Rico
Corridors, 2008
(Printed on cardboard)
Collection III
Curator:
Marysol Nieves
Marysol holds a Master of Arts in 20th Century & Contemporary Art History and Criticism from
the State University of New York at Stony Brook. She is Latin American Specialist at Christie’s
auction house, in New York. She has worked as a curator for various world renowned
institutions. Prior to joining Christie’s, Marysol was an independent curator and art consultant
working with a number of museums, corporate collections, and individual clients, including the
Bronx Museum of the Arts in New York, the FEMSA Collection in Monterrey, Mexico; Museo de
Arte de Ponce and the Dorado Beach Resort. In addition to working independently, she has
held various positions in the art field, including specialist in the Latin American Art Department
at Sotheby’s, Director of Visual Arts at the Americas Society, New York; and Senior Curator at
the Bronx Museum of the Arts, New York.
Participating Artists:
Nick Quijano
Diógenes Ballester
Liliana Porter
Ellen Harvey
Julio Micheli
Marta Mabel Pérez
Zilia Sánchez
Ana Rosa Rivera
Figure 16.
Diógenes Ballester, 1956
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Twins, 2009
(Mezzotinta)
15 x 14 ½ "
Figure 17.
Nick Quijano, 1953
New York, USA
Caribbean Nature, 2009
(Monotype-operated hand print
13 x 12"
Figure 18.
Ellen Harvey, 1967
Kent, England
Plastic Bag Tree, 2009
(Laser engraving, mirror plexiglass)
8.75 x 8.75 "
Figure 19.
Liliana Porter, 1941
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Blue Bird, 2009
(Digital Color Photography)
11 x 8 ½”
Figure 20.
Julio Micheli, 1937
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Nonsense, 2009
(4 digital prints in color)
11 x 8 ½ "each
Figure 21.
Marta Mabel Pérez, 1968
Lares, Puerto Rico
White Puerto Rican Flag Kit, 2009
(Polyester, cotton, embroidered application,
sewing needle, box and paper)
8 x 11 "8 x 11”
Figure 22.
Ana Rosa Rivera, 1967
Morovis, Puerto Rico
Lady on Horseback: I am part of the endeavour,
2009-2010
(Color Photography)
16 x 11”
Figure 23.
Zilia Sanchez, 1928
Havana, Cuba
The Silence of Silence, 2009
(Print)
11 x 15”
Artists Bios
Víctor Vázquez received his BA in Psychology and Sociology at the University of Puerto Rico.
He continued his studies in Education and Comparative Literature at New York University.
Inspired by these investigations, he traveled to India, China and Japan to learn more about the
art, literature and culture of these countries. When he returned, he began to study
photography with Jan Jurasnek, while attending the School of Visual Arts at the Maine
Photography Workshop. His works are part of the following collections: ARTIS Paris, Wilfredo
Lam Center in Havana, Cuba, Museum of Contemporary Art of Puerto Rico Museum of Art of
the Americas in Washington, DC, among other collections.
Carlos Cancio received his BA from Boston University. He traveled to Spain, where he set up
his first studio. He lived in San Francisco, California, from 1991 to 2003. He currently lives in
San Juan, Puerto Rico. He has shown his works in exhibitions at the Institute of Puerto Rican
Culture, Art History Museum in San Juan, Galería Botello and Viota Gallery, among others.
Rafael Trelles is a painter, muralist, designer and installer. He holds a B.A. from the University
of Puerto Rico and he pursued graduate studies at the Autonomous University of Mexico.
Interested in the occult and tarot, his work seeks the roots in surrealist painting. Over the past
two years he has worked on a technique developed by him, which consists in drawing or
making prints on walls and sidewalks with water guns and stencils. From each of these
interventions, he has made videos and pictures.
María de Mater O’Neill holds a B.F.A. from Cooper Union School of Arts and Sciences, NYC,
and a doctorate in Design Practice, from Northumbria University, at United Kingdom. She
obtained the Second Honorable Mention for the paintings «Balcón» and «Patio» in 34ème the
International of the Peinture, celebrated in the Chateau-Musee of the Cagnes-south-Mer, Cote
d'Azur, France (2002). In addition she has been awarded for the lithography «Clasifícame
ésta», Prize, XIII Bienal de San Juan del Grabado Latinoamericano y del Caribe (2001) of the
Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña; the Association of Artists UNESCO (1999); and First Prize,
III Bienal Internacional de Pintura, Cuenca, Ecuador (1991).
Susana Espinosa earned a B.F.A. in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She is co-founder and Director of
Candina House since 1980. She co-organized Candina House Award: Biennial of
Contemporary Ceramics 3 [1995 -2001]. Since 1989, she is a member of the International
Academy of Ceramics. The Association of Art Critics of Puerto Rico awarded her in 2000 the
Public Memorial Award for her work at the House of Culture Ruth Fernandez, in San Juan, PR.
Her work is part of the Museum of Contemporary Art of Puerto Rico, Museum of Latin
American Art, California, and Museo della Ceramica D'arte of Faenza, Italy.
Melquíades Rosario was born in Morovis, Puerto Rico. Hee started his studies in 1976 at the
School of Fine Arts of the Puerto Rican Culture Institute in San Juan. In 1981, he enrolled in
The Art Students League of New York. He founded the Association of Puerto Rican Sculptors in
1982.
Bernardo Hogan is established in Puerto Rico since 1968, He specializes in the technical
aspect of clays, glazes and enamels. He is co-founder of Casa Candina. He has taught ceramics
and has given talks in different schools. He has collaborated with numerous public and private
commissions. He has had several solo exhibitions and numerous group exhibitions in Puerto
Rico, Mexico, Venezuela, United States, France and Italy. The Association of Art Critics of St.
John awarded him the prize for Best Retrospective Exhibition in 1996. He was awarded the
Gold Medal of the Concorso Internazionalle della Ceramica in Faenza (Italy, 1984).
Antonio Martorell was born in Santurce Puerto Rico. He has devoted his life to drawing,
painting, recording, writing, theater, radio, television, film, and dance. Martorell is resident
artist at University of Puerto Rico in Cayey, Puerto Rico. He holds workshops in Playa de Ponce,
San Juan and in New York. He has collaborated with WIPR-TV cultural program “En la punta de
la lengua”. His artwork, which is in private and public collections, has been exhibited and
awarded in Puerto Rico and abroad.
Arnaldo Roche-Rabell earned his Bachelor and Master of Fine Arts at the Chicago Art Institute.
He has had a celebrated career and his work has been exhibited in Spain, Central, South and
North America. Force, energy, vigor and drama are the attributes of his work. Its figures are
achieved through the technique of "frottage". His themes address the political and social
situation of Puerto Rico.
Carmelo Sobrino is painter, writer, and environmental advocate. He studied at the School of
Visual Arts of Puerto Rico. He was co-founder of the workshop The scorpion pit. His work has
always been linked to Puerto Rican culture, its people, its festivals, and traditions. His paintings
of brilliant colors and sinuous lines represent the excitement of the Caribbean.
Eddie Ferraioli studied special education at the University of Puerto Rico and holds a Master’s
degree in Psychology from New York University. When he became interested in glass, he took
design courses at Parsons School of Design in New York Social Research in New York. His
complex mosaic and stained glass designs denote a strong interest in the tropical flora.
Toni Hambleton is a ceramist and teacher. She studied at the School of Design in Mexico City.
She is established in Puerto Rico since 1973. She was a founding member and co- founder of
Candina House. Her works in clay and porcelain have an architectural quality. Her sculptures
invite the viewer to engage in a physical and emotional experience.
Jaime Suárez is a sculptor, potter, designer, architect, educator and advocate for the arts. He
holds a Bachelor of Architecture at the Catholic University of Washington and a Master’s
degree in Urban Design from Columbia University in New York. His sculptures in clay pots,
plates and facilities are remembrance of Latin-American roots. He created the technique of
barrografías. For him, the mud is a generator of life, a surface that receives the test of time and
strength, which invite the viewer to question his existence.
Charles Juhasz-Alvarado was born in 1965, in Philippines. He grew up in Puerto Rico and the
Dominican Republic. He holds a double major B.A. in Art and Architecture and a M.F.A. from
Yale School of Art.
Jorge Zeno is a painter, sculptor and engraver. He studied at the School of Visual Arts of
Puerto Rico. He currently lives and exhibits his work in New York and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
His paintings and sculptures have been described as mysterious and playful.
Nick Quijano is a painter, sculptor, printmaker and designer based in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
He is a graduate of the School of Architecture at the University of Puerto Rico, where he
studied environmental design. His work is in many national collections including the Museum
of Contemporary Art and Museo de Arte de Ponce. Both the subjects and bright colors of his
works address aspects of landscapes and collective history. Since 1983 he makes sculptures
with industrial waste, creating artistic and ecological awareness.
Diógenes Ballester is a painter, printmaker, and sculptor. He holds an MFA from the University
of Wisconsin at Madison and a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the Catholic University of Puerto Rico,
in Ponce, Puerto Rico. He has lived in New York and has established a studio in his hometown
of Ponce. Using traditional techniques such as encaustic, woodcuts, and other experimental
techniques in video, he interprets aspects of history and African diaspora in Puerto Rico and
the Caribbean.
Liliana Porter was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina 1941. She has lived in New York since
1964. Porter enjoys working in many different mediums such as printmaking, painting,
installations, photography, film, and video. Since 1991 she has been a professor at Queens
College, City University of New York. Porter's gallery representation includes Annina Nosei
Gallery, New York, NY; Sicardi Gallery, Houston, TX; Galería Ruth Benzacar, Buenos Aires,
Argentina; Galería Brito-Cimino, S. Paulo, Brazil; and Galería Espacio Mínimo, Madrid, Spain.
In addition, Porter is represented in national and international public collections.
Ellen Harvey, born in 1967 at Farnborough, Kent, U.K., is a Brooklyn based artist working in a
variety of media, including painting, video, installation and performance. She is a graduate of
Harvard University, Yale Law School and attended both the Whitney Independent Study
Program and the PS1 National Studio Program. Harvey has exhibited extensively both in the
United States and internationally. She has been the recipient of numerous awards including a
Rema Hort Mann Foundation Artist’s Award in 2004, a Philadelphia Exhibitions Initiative Award
in 2004, and a Lily Auchincloss Foundation Fellowship from the New York Foundation for the
Arts in 2002, among others. She is known for work that uses traditional aesthetics and media in
surprising ways to call into question the social or physical situation in which it is placed.
Julio Micheli is a painter, graphic artist, sculptor, draftsman, watercolorist, educator and
entomologist. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Miami, Florida, and a Masters
in Fine Arts from Claremont University, California. He has received awards in painting and
printmaking. His works are defined by shapes and ambiguous spaces, which oftentimes
represent a challenge to the viewer.
Marta Mabel Pérez is a photographer and museologist who was recipient of the Presidential
Grant from the University of Puerto Rico to study art and architecture at the American
University in Washington DC. In 1986, she graduated in Humanities at the University of Puerto
Rico, with a concentration in Fine Arts. She has been fellowship by the Secretary of Foreign
Affairs of the Government of the Republic of Mexico to make a Master in the National
Autonomous University of Mexico where she achieved the prize of Academic excellence by the
University. In 2002, she has been awarded with the Prize for Best Contemporary Media
facilities by the Association of International Art Critics, Chapter of Puerto Rico. She was
selected to carry out a photographic project commissioned by the Department of Culture
Monza in Italy, after making her project "Between Islands" in Tenerife, Canary Islands funded
by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Zilia Sánchez was born in Havana, Cuba on July 12, 1928. She resided in Spain from 1960 to
1962, lived in the U.S.A. from 1962 to 1971 and in San Juan, Puerto Rico, since 1971. In her
artistic work, she has developed mostly painting, sculpture, drawing and scenographic design.
Zilia graduated from the Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes San Alejandro in 1957. Between the
years 1966 and 1968 she studied at the Instituto Central de Conservación y Restauración in
Madrid, Spain and from 1968 to 1970, she continued her education at the Pratt Institute in the
city of New York, U.S.A.
Ana Rosa Rivera was born in Morovis, Puerto Rico, in 1967. She holds a BFA in Sculpture from
the School of Visual Arts, in San Juan. Rivera Marrero's work examines the historical
architecture and its frequent colonial and patriarchal implications. In her Puerto Rican feminist
position, she addresses sexual politics, as well as mythological and religious symbolism.