Héctor Rafael Painter and educator. 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 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, 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
Solo Exhibitions:
2019 Transmutación Colectiva, Puerto Rican Arts Alliance, Chicago, Illinois
2017 Ser, Galería Cidreña, Cidra, Puerto Rico
2016 Biomórfico, Museo de las Américas, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2013 Horizontes y fragmentos, Pamil Fine Art, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2010 Transfigurado, Galería Yemayá, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2009 El Gigante, Galería Yemayá, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2007 Cuadriculado, Galería Pintadera, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2006 Revelaciones, Galería Pintadera, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2005 Latente, Museo de Arte de Caguas, Caguas, Puerto Rico
2004 Latente, A. Cueto Gallery, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2003 Atletas Cósmicos, RoKa Espacio, Santurce, Puerto Rico
1998 Expirito, Private Affairs, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York
1997 8, De la Cruz & Assoc., Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
1995 Mi Venida, Alo Bistro, San Juan, 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
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 1° International Prize Donatello, granted by Russo Studio di Consulenza Artistica and Effeto 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.
Group Exhibitions:
2021 - 2022 Sucesiones: narrativas gráficas en el dibujo, Museo de Arte Francisco Oller, Bayamón, Puerto Rico
2018 - 2022 Encuentros, Pamil Fine Art, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2020 Acervo, historia y futuro, Museo de Arte de Caguas, Caguas, Puerto Rico
2019 Alchemic Body, The Line Contemporary Art Space, London, United Kingdom
2019 Segnalati, Meeting Art Gallery, Lisbon, Portugal
2019 Polifonía, Quinta Dominica, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
2019 Quinto Aniversario, Galería Cidreña, Cidra, Puerto Rico
2018 Presencia, Canvas Miami Gallery, Miami, Florida
2018 Bodies, Surfaces International Art and Architecture Festival, Palazzo Ca' Zanardi, Venice, Italy
2017 Perspectiva de Género: exposición de hombres artistas, Museo de Arte de Caguas, Caguas, Puerto Rico
2017 Rican Renaissance Art & Culture Festival, Puerto Rican Cultural Center, Chicago, Illinois
2016 Future Landscapes, Borders International Art and Architecture Festival, Palazzo Ca' Zanardi, Venice, Italy
2010-2016 Diasporarte, Pamil Fine Art, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2015 Muestra Nacional de Artes, Museo Casa Blanca, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2015 Al Ras del Filo, Museo de Arte de Caguas, Caguas, Puerto Rico
2015 Agua, Espacio Emergente, Bayamón, Puerto Rico
2015 Conceptos Irreveretes, Museo Casa Escuté, Carolina, Puerto Rico
2015 Ecléctica, Espacio Emergente, Bayamón, Puerto Rico
2014 Oink!, Sala Miguel A. Domenech, Edificio La Princesa, Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
2014 Jazz: lente y canvas, Museo Casa Zapater, Ponce, Puerto Rico
2013-2014 Retro, Museo de Arte de Caguas, Caguas, Puerto Rico
2013 Carry-On: Puerto Rico Inspected, Georgia College Museum, Milledgeville, GA
2012 Carry-On: Puerto Rico Inspected, Institute of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture (IPRAC), Chicago, IL
2012 De lo abstracto a lo figurativo, Pamil Fine Art, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2011 Carry-On: Puerto Rico Inspected, Abrazo Interno Gallery, Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center, New York, NY
2011 Del tapiz al placemat: Riquezas del arte contemporáneo, Comisión Estatal de Elecciones de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2011 Carry-On: Puerto Rico Inspected, Villa Victoria Center for the Arts, Boston, Massachusetts
2011 Embarcadero… punto de llegada…punto de partida, Pamil Fine Art, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2011 Los platos de la última cena, Comisión Estatal de Elecciones de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2010 Aroma del color, Pamil Fine Art, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2010 XI Salón de Mayo, Museum of the Americas, Doral, Florida
2009-2010 12 x 12, Galería Yemayá, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2009 Carlos Osorio y el Valle Criollo, Museo de Arte de Caguas, Caguas, Puerto Rico
2008 Istanbul International Paintings Exhibition: Instants, Dolmabahce Palace Museum, Istanbul, Turkey
2008 Ciclos, two person exhibition, Galería Yemayá, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2008 Exposición Reyes Veray, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2008 Salitre, Galería Yemayá, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2008 Terruño y el paraíso perdido, Museo de Arte de Caguas, Caguas, PR
2007 Terruño y el paraíso perdido, Museo de Las Américas, San Juan, PR
2007 Apertura del Distrito de las Artes, Galería Pintadera, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2006 Medios, Museo de Arte de Caguas, Caguas, Puerto Rico
2006 Arte emergente del Valle del Turabo, Antigua Casa Alcaldía, Gurabo, Puerto Rico
2005-2006 Pequeño formato, Galería Pintadera, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2005 Arte en el Coliseo, Coliseo José Miguel Agrelot, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2005 Merrill Lynch Art Week, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2003-2004 Colectiva Navideña, A. Cueto Gallery, San Juan, 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, Shaffer Art Building, Syracuse University
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 and Essays:
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.
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