Héctor Rafael Painter, educator and artist-curator. Born of Puerto Rican parents in Santiago de Compostela, Spain and raised in Puerto Rico. The artist has a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a Major in Painting from the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Syracuse University and a Master of Art Education from Universidad Ana G. Méndez. His paintings have been included in exhibitions in Puerto Rico, New York, Miami, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Istanbul (Turkey), London (United Kingdom), Barcelona (Spain), Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), Lisbon (Portugal), Florence, Mantua and Venice (Italy). His role as an educator has made him very influential in a new generation of Puerto Rican artists and professionals in creative fields. In 2019 Héctor Rafael was recognized in Europe for his artistic merit during the Bienal Internacional de Arte de Barcelona at the Museu Europeu d'Art Modern (MEAM) in Barcelona, Spain and in Mantova Biennale Internazionale d’ Arte Contemporanea at Museo Diocesano Francesco Gonzaga in Mantua, Italy. In 2023 Héctor Rafael received the 1° International Prize Donatello at Palazzo Borghese in Florence, the International Prize Leonardo Da Vinci at Museo della Scienza e della Tecnologia Leonardo Da Vinci in Milan and the International Prize Michelangelo at Teatro Italia in Rome, Italy. The artist’s work is part of prestigious private and public collections including Museo de Arte de Caguas, Museo de Arte Francisco Oller and the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance (PRAA) in Chicago, Illinois.
Education:
Universidad de Ana G. Méndez, Recinto de Gurabo
Master of Art Education – Summa Cum Laude
Syracuse University, College of Visual and Performing Arts
Bachelor of Fine Arts – Cum Laude
Major in Painting. Minor in Illustration.
Solo Exhibitions:
2019 Transmutación Colectiva, curated by Héctor Rafael and Jorge Félix, Puerto Rican Arts Alliance (PRAA), Chicago, Illinois
2017 Ser, curated by Héctor Rafael and Javier Velez García, Galería Cidreña, Cidra, Puerto Rico
2016 Biomórfico, curated by Héctor Rafael, Museo de las Américas, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2013 Horizontes y Fragmentos, curated by Héctor Rafael, Paco González and Mildred Ascar González, Pamil Fine Art, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2010 Transfigurado, curated by Héctor Rafael and Beto Torrens, Galería Yemayá, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2009 El Gigante, curated by Héctor Rafael and Beto Torrens, Galería Yemayá, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2007 Cuadriculado, curated by Héctor Rafael and Robert Hernández, Galería Pintadera, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2006 Revelaciones, curated by Héctor Rafael and Robert Hernández, Galería Pintadera, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2004-2005 Latente, curated by Héctor Rafael and Arnaldo Cueto, A. Cueto Gallery, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Museo de Arte de Caguas, Caguas, Puerto Rico
2003 Atletas Cósmicos, curated by Héctor Rafael and Arnaldo Cueto, RoKa Espacio, Santurce, Puerto Rico
Biennials:
2019 Mantova Biennale Internazionale d’ Arte Contemporanea, Museo Diocesano Francesco Gonzaga, Mantua, Italy
2019 Bienal Internacional de Arte de Barcelona, Museu Europeu d'Art Modern (MEAM), Barcelona, Spain
2007 Biennale Internazionale dell’ Arte Contemporanea di Firenze, Fortezza da Basso, Florence, Italy
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2023 En la Otra Orilla, curated by Elsa María Meléndez, Museo de Arte de Caguas (MUAC), Caguas, Puerto Rico.
2021-2022 Sucesiones: narrativas gráficas en el dibujo, curated by MAFO team, Museo de Arte Francisco Oller, Bayamón, Puerto Rico.
2020 Acervo, historia y futuro, curated by Elsa María Meléndez, Museo de Arte de Caguas, Caguas, Puerto Rico
2019 Alchemic Body, curated by Luca Curci, The Line Contemporary Art Space, London, United Kingdom.
2019 Segnalati, curated by Salvatore Russo, Meeting Art Gallery, Lisbon, Portugal.
2019 Polifonía, curated by Carlos Acero Ruiz (AICA) and Miguel Ángel Fornerín (AICA), Quinta Dominica, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
2018 Presencia, curated by Silvia Medina, Canvas Miami Gallery, Miami, Florida.
2018 Bodies, Surfaces International Art and Architecture Festival, curated by Luca Curci, Palazzo Ca' Zanardi, Venice, Italy.
2018-2022 Encuentros, curated by Paco González and Mildred Ascar González, Pamil Fine Art, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
2017 Perspectiva de Género: exposición de hombres artistas, curated by Elsa María Meléndez, Museo de Arte de Caguas, Caguas, Puerto Rico.
2016 Future Landscapes, Borders International Art and Architecture Festival, curated by Luca Curci, Palazzo Ca' Zanardi, Venice, Italy.
2015 16a Muestra Nacional de Artes de Puerto Rico, curated by Abdiel D. Segarra Ríos, Museo Casa Blanca, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
2015 Al Ras del Filo, curated by Elsa María Meléndez, Museo de Arte de Caguas, Caguas, Puerto Rico.
2015 Ecléctica, curated by MAFO team, Espacio Emergente, Bayamón, Puerto Rico.
2013-2014 Retro, curated by Elsa María Meléndez, Museo de Arte de Caguas, Caguas, Puerto Rico
2011-2013 Carry-On: Puerto Rico Inspected, curated by Anabel Vázquez Rodríguez and Beto Torrens, Villa Victoria Center for the Arts, Boston, MA; Abrazo Interno Gallery, Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center, New York, NY; Institute of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture (IPRAC), Chicago, IL; Georgia College Museum, Milledgeville, GA.
2010 Aroma del color, curated by Maud Duquella, Aileen Castañeda, Carmelo Fontánez and Rafael Trelles, Pamil Fine Art, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2009 Carlos Osorio y el Valle Criollo, curated by Elsa María Meléndez, Museo de Arte de Caguas, Caguas, Puerto Rico
2008 Instants, curated by Erenus Art Gallery, Dolmabahce Palace Museum, Istanbul, Turkey
2008 Exposición Reyes Veray, curated by Otto Reyes, Adlín Ríos Rigau, Manuel Álvarez Lezama, Enrique García Gutierrez and Hiromi Shiba, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico (MAC), San Juan, Puerto Rico.
2008 Ciclos, two person exhibition, curated by Beto Torrens, Gretchen Ruíz and Héctor Rafael, Galería Yemayá, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2007-2008 Terruño y el paraíso perdido, curated by Elsa María Meléndez, Museo de Las Américas, San Juan; Museo de Arte de Caguas, Caguas, Puerto Rico.
1997-2002 Christie’s Annual Staff Exhibition, Christie’s, New York
1997 Naked Landscapes, Spazi Contemporary Art Gallery, Housatonic, Massachusetts
1995 Polimorfo, two person exhibition, curated by Beto Torrens and Héctor Rafael, Shaffer Art Building, Syracuse University
Auctions:
2018 Elton John Aids Foundation Benefit Silent Auction, Los Angeles, California
2008 Somos Reflejo , Benefit Auction – Miguel Cotto’s El Ángel Foundation, Hotel La Concha, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2001 A Few of My Favorite Things, Benefit Auction – Free Arts for the Abused Children, Sotheby’s, New York
Awards:
2023 International Prize Michelangelo - The Genius of Italy, granted by Russo Studio di Consulenza Artistica and Effetto Arte Foundation at Teatro Italia in Rome, Italy.
2023 5° International Prize Leonardo Da Vinci, granted by Russo Studio di Consulenza Artistica and Effetto Arte Foundation at Museo della Scienza e della Tecnologia Leonardo Da Vinci in Milan, Italy.
2023 1° International Prize Donatello, granted by Russo Studio di Consulenza Artistica and Effetto Arte Foundation at Borghese Palace in Florence, Italy.
2019 International Prize Artist of the Year granted by Russo Studio di Consulenza Artistica and Art Now at Teatro Sociale di Mantova in Mantua, Italy
2019 International Prize Diego Velázquez, Bienal de Arte de Barcelona, Gomis Palace, Barcelona, Spain
2019 International Prize Botticelli granted by Russo Studio di Consulenza Artistica at Borghese Palace in Florence, Italy.
1993 Carnation Scholarship Award, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York
Art Fairs:
2020 Art Fort Lauderdale, Las Olas Intracoastal Waterways Luxury Properties, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
2008 International Caribbean Art Fair, The Waterfront, Chelsea Art District, New York, NY
Selected Articles, Essays, Catalogues and Books:
Acero Ruíz, Carlos, AICA (2019). Un encuentro entre artistas dominicanos y puertorriqueños, Polifonía Exhibition Catalogue, Quinta Dominica, Dominican Republic.
Álvarez Lezama, Manuel, AICA (2008), La Colección Reyes Veray ante los retos de las nuevas – y a veces controvertibles - miradas estéticas y éticas desde los años noventa, Colección Reyes Veray Exhibition Catalogue, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo, Puerto Rico.
Curci, Lucca (2019). ItsLiquid Interview at The Line Contemporary Art Space, London, UK. Retrieved from https://www.itsliquid.com/interviewhectorrafael.html?fbclid=IwAR3JWu7uIDExk_STOq6CvrPI7dmt6SIxhRdoSJr
Curci, Lucca (2016). Interview during Future Landscapes, Palazzo Ca'Zanardi, Venice, Italy. Retrieved from http://www.itsliquid.com/interview-hector-rafael.html
Fornerín, Miguel Angel, AICA (2019). Polifonía, el arte contemporáneo del Caribe, Polifonía Exhibition Catalogue, Quinta Dominica, Dominican Republic.
García Gutiérrez, Enrique, AICA (2009). El Gigante...pinturas de Héctor Rafael, El Gigante Exhibition Catalogue, Galería Yemayá, Puerto Rico.
Medina, Silvia (2018). Presence - An Interactive Mosaic of Puerto Rico's Creative Diversity, Art Districts Florida Magazine, No.57, Miami, Florida.
Meléndez, Elsa María (2010), Retro, Retro Exhibition Catalogue, Museo de Arte de Caguas, Puerto Rico.
Peláez, José A. (2006). Revelaciones sobre Héctor Rafael, Revelaciones Exhibition Catalogue, Galería Pintadera, Puerto Rico.
Ramos, Zoé (2013) Oteando sobrearte y cultura, Periódico La Voz Hispana, July 2013, p. 19, NY, New York.
Rodríguez, Jorge (2018), Presencia artística en Florida, El Vocero de Puerto Rico, November 20, 2018, p.26, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Rodríguez, Jorge (2018), Boricua une su talento al de Elton John, El Vocero de Puerto Rico, March 5, 2018, p.21, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Rodríguez, Jorge (2017), Abstractos Monumentales, Escenario, El Vocero de Puerto Rico, August 11, 2017, p.19, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Rodríguez, Jorge (2016). Arte Boricua en Venecia, El Vocero de Puerto Rico, October 10, 2016, p.23, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Russo, Salvatore (2019). Segnalati, p.67-69, Lisbon, Portugal.
Russo, Francesco and Russo, Salvatore (2023). Michelangelo - The Genius of Italy, Milan, Italy.
Russo, Francesco and Russo, Salvatore (2023). Leonardo Da Vinci - The Universal Artist, Rome, Italy.
Russo, Salvatore (2023). Contemporary Celebrity Masters, Vol. 1, 2 , & 4, Florence, Italy.
Shiba Lecompte, Hiromi, AICA (2008), Ciclos: reencuentro de dos pinceles, Galería Yemayá, Puerto Rico.
Vélez, Pedro (2009), Carlos Osorio y el Valle Criollo, Tres Museos Criollos, Municipio Autónomo de Caguas, p.86.
Vélez, Pedro (2007). Héctor Rafael y la abstracción expansiva, Cuadriculado Exhibition Catalogue, Galería Pintadera, Puerto Rico.
Employment:
Colegio Católico Notre Dame
Head of the Department of Art
2013 - Present
Art Teacher
2003 - Present
Christie's New York
Maritime and Sporting Art Department
Cataloguer and Art Handler
2000 - 2002
Latin American Art Department
Cataloguer and Art Handler
1996 - 2000