CONTEMPORARY PUERTO RICAN PAINTER OBED GOMEZ
"My purpose is to send a message of love, positive energy, balance and tranquility through my art. I believe it is a tremendous responsibility to be an artist. The world we live in, the people around us and the messages we send sometimes become one in a painting, a sculpture or a drawing. Through art we express a view of the world and of what we are."
- Obed Gómez
Artist's photo taken by: Tim Steward
Puerto Rican contemporary artist Obed Gómez expresses himself in a variety of media, including acrylic on canvas, watercolor, pencil, ink and pastel. As a Latin American artist his passion for life and art is vividly depicted in his colorful pieces.
Obed was born on October, 1966 in Santurce, Puerto Rico. From a very early age he demonstrated interest in drawing. He studied at the League of Art of San Juan where he expanded his knowledge in drawing and painting. He also attended art classes at the Andrés Bueso Academy of Arts and earned a B.A. degree in Visual Art at the University of Sacred Heart in Santurce, Puerto Rico. He lived in Puerto Rico until he relocated to the United States in 1995 with his family.
Gómez has evolved as a children’s art instructor, editorial cartoonist and as a prepress graphic artist. He currently works for a publisher where he designs web pages for the Internet. He also does freelance work as an illustrator for Pearson Education, Norwood Publishing, Bookspan, Scott Foresman, Holt, Rinehart & Winston, McDougal Littell, and Arte Público Press.
Obed’s artwork adopts many forms and styles. His work has indeed found its niche and its own voice. This is most evident in his use of exuberant colors, inspired by his boundless passion towards his ancestral past, and traditions.
Some of Obed’s private collectors are Florida’s first lady Columba Bush, Sila María Calderón, former Governor of Puerto Rico, and world international golfer Ernie Els. The artist's artwork is now part of the permanent collection of the University of Connecticut's Institute for Puerto Rican and Latino Studies.
The artist was a nominee for the 2004 prestigious Paoli awards. His artwork was selected by Hollywood’s set designer Lance Lombardo for season 4 of Lifetime Network's Program, “The Division" in January 2004. Obed is currently working on an art project for the University of Houston. His artwork has been featured on Art Business News Magazine and the cover of Orlando Arts Magazine. It has been in exhibits at SeaWorld Orlando, Epcot, the Orlando Museum, the Brevard Museum of art and Science and Galeria Latina in England.
Obed’s rich ethnic background - Hispanic, Taino Indian and African - as well as his love for nature, influence his work which has been exhibited in the USA, Europe and the Caribbean.
Obed's Art Exhibits
Solo Exhibitions
2006- Dale Mabry Campus Art Gallery , Hillsborough Community College, Tampa, FL
2005- "Childhood Memories" Art Exhibit, Brevard Community College, Cocoa, FL
2005- "The Colors of Life" Art Exhibit, The House of Arts, Casselberry, FL
2004- Valencia Community College East Campus, Orlando, FL
2004- Moore Multicultural Center at Brevard Community College, Cocoa, FL
2003- Office of the Governor of Florida, Orlando, FL
2003- “Palette of Culture” Art Exhibit, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
2002- Celebration Foundation, Celebration, FL
2002- Valencia Community College East Campus, Orlando, FL
2002- Gainesville's Antique & Art Gallery Consignment, Gainesville, FL
2001- Descubriendo Nuestro Talento Puertorriqueño, Orlando, FL
2001- Women Composers of Latin America Concert at the University of Miami, Miami, FL
2001- Darden's Hispanic Heritage Art Exhibit, Orlando, FL
2001- Orlando Public Library Art Exhibit, Orlando, FL
2000- Puerto Rican Parade Art Exhibit, Orlando, FL
1999- Lockheed Martin-Orlando, FL
1999- Sears Art Exhibit, Orlando, FL
1999- Puerto Rican Parade Art Exhibit, Orlando, FL
1995- Universidad del Sagrado Corazon, Santurce, Puerto Rico
Group Exhibitions
2006- Latin-American Art Exhibit, Portofino Bay Hotel Gallery, Orlando, FL
2006- "ART IN The CHAMBERS" Art Exhibit, Orange County Administration , Orlando, FL
2006- "Viva Arts After Hours" Art Exhibit, Orlando Main Public Library, Orlando, FL
2005- "Hispanic Expressions" Art Exhibit, University of Central Florida (UCF), Orlando, FL
2005- "Presencia Boricua" Art Exhibit, Museum Of The Americas (MoA), Miami, FL
2005- "Latin Fusion", Casselberry City Hall, Casselberry, FL
2004- Brevard Museum of Art & Science, Melbourne, FL
2004- "The Floridian-Puerto Rican Art Connection" Kissimmee City Hall, Kissimmee, FL
2004- "Travel, Adventure & Motion" Platform #3 Exhibit, Lakeland, FL
2004- "La Dolce Vita Exhibit" 1st Thursdays at The Orlando Museum of Art (OMA), Orlando, FL
2004- Pura Vida Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2004- "Colores del Caribe", Casselberry City Hall, Casselberry, FL
2003- Brevard Museum of Art & Science, Melbourne, FL
2003- A Hispanic Perspective Art Exhibit, City Hall Terrace Gallery, Orlando, FL
2003- A Hispanic Perspective Art Exhibit, Osceola Center For The Arts, Kissimmee, FL
2002- Art Exhibit, Galería Latina, Cornwall, England, UK
2002- 3rd Vernissage, The Little Art Studio Gallery, Kissimmee, FL
2002- International Art Exhibit, Kissimmee City Hall, Kissimmee, FL
2002- Coro de Campanas de PR Concert and Art Exhibit and Mother's Day Tribute, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Miami
2002- Annual Juried Art Exhibition, Osceola Center For The Arts, Kissimmee, FL
2002- International Emerging Art Show, Casselberry City Hall, Casselberry, FL
2001- Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Orlando, FL
2001- PROFESA's Puerto Rican Art Exhibit Davie, FL
2001- Historical Society of Central Florida Hispanic Art Exhibit Orlando, FL
2001- Hispanic Heritage Art Exhibit 2001 Orlando, FL
2001- Shin-Dig Orange County Regional History Center Orlando, FL
2001- Lockheed Martin-Orlando, FL
2001- Puerto Rican Parade Art Exhibit, Orlando, FL
2001- Latin American Art Exhibition, Valencia Community College-Orlando, FL
2000- Lockheed Martin-Orlando, FL
2000- Latin American Art Exhibition, Valencia Community College-Orlando, FL
2000- Festival Taino 2000, Las Americas Museum of Art - Kissimmee, FL
2000- Hispanic Heritage Celebration, Lockheed Martin-Orlando, FL
2000- Orange County's Hispanic Art & History Exhibit, Orlando, FL
1999- Latin American Art Exhibition, Valencia Community College-Orlando, FL
1999- Orange County's Hispanic Art & History Exhibit, Orlando, FL
What styles of art have been a major influence on you?
I think the styles that have had a major influence in me are Impressionism, Cubism and Abstract Expressionism. I like the expressive and powerful message they send to the viewer.
What artists do you like and do you emulate, if any?
I like Picasso, because of the themes he used. His paintings are very powerful, simple in some cases but above all he was himself and you can see it throughout his work. Some of my inspirations have been triggered by looking at his creations. To me he will always be one of the best artists ever.
What themes are you interested in now? What themes are you concerned with?
The themes that interest me now are love, balance, tranquillity and my relationship with God. The themes that concern me are those which send a positive message to the people. I think we as humans and creations of God are connected to each other. If we where more positive in our lives and with one another, we would accomplish a lot more.
Do you really believe that art depicts (reveals) truth? What truth and how?
Absolutely, art reveals truth about the artist. It tells you the person's concerns worries, changes, etc. All this by the use of colors, shapes, themes, etc. How the person is in the inside in other words how the person really is.
Why are you an artist?
I'm an artist because that is my true self, that is what I am. God is what moves me and the source of my inspirations.
Your paintings reveal images of your culture (Puerto Rican culture). Will this change because you now live in another, entirely different, environment or culture?
Oddly enough, it has been now that I'm away from Puerto Rico that my paintings reveal images of my culture. I'm very proud of my heritage and culture.
Like a friend of mine would say - "I'm a Puerto Rican even if I would had been born on the moon".
How will this "new" culture influence your style, your creativity, your themes?
This culture provides me with new ideas and ways to express my art. I don't reject anything that provides me with different points of view. The more you know about you and others, the closer you get to conquer yourself.
Where do you want to go from here? Where will you be 5, 10, 20, years from now?
I would like to expand my knowledge and keep growing mentally. 5, 10 or 20 years from now I see myself in a position to help others surrounded by my family. Professionally, I'll be a world known artist.
What message do you have for the world?
My message for the world is one of peace, love and balance. To put ourselves aside for a minute and look at the other's situations. To live in peace and in consideration with all living things.
What do you call your art or style of art?
If I had one word to describe my art it would be… "Energetic"
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