René Portocarrero

René Portocarrero (born Havana, 24 February 1912; died Havana, 27 April 1985) was a Cuban artist recognised internationally for his achievements.

History

He began his artistic education at the San Alejandro academy, but left early and is hence considered 'self taught'. [http://www.soycubano.com/pena/avisuales/portocarreroi.asp Biography at www.soycubano.com] ] He put on his first exhibition in 1934, at the Havana Lyceum, beginning a long and fruitful career which included a 1937 collaboration with Mariano Rodríguez and work as a 'free studies' teacher of painting and sculpture. [http://www.cubaliteraria.cu/monografia/grupo_origenes/integrantes/rp.html Biography at www.cubaliteraria.cu] es icon] After travels in Haiti, Europe and the United States he gave his first show to an overseas audience at Julian Levy's gallery in New York City in 1945. [http://www.alocubano.com/rene_portocarrero.htm Biography at www.alocubano.com] ]

Artworks

As well as a painter and sculptor, Portocarrero worked as a ceramicist, scenic designer and book illustrator, publishing his own "Las Máscaras" (The Masks) in 1935 and "El Sueño" (The Dream) in 1939. He was also a muralist, producing public artworks for the Havana Prison, a church in Bauta, Cuba, the Cuban National Hospital, the Cuban National Theatre and the Hotel Tryp Habana Libre. His artworks form part of the permanent collections of galleries in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, France, Peru, the United States and Uruguay, as well as his native Cuba.

Awards

In his lifetime he won 'best collection' at the seventh São Paulo Art Biennial (1963), was honoured by the governments of Bulgaria, Mexico and Poland, and given a seat on UNESCO's International Association of Fine Art. Five of his paintings can be viewed online at [http://www.vanguardiacubana.com/pintores-vanguardia-cubana/rene-portocarrero/rene-portocarrero-obras.htm www.vanguardiacubana.com] .

References