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 CatalogueMuseo 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


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