Virgilio Méndez - A Retrospective (1978-1989)

Few artists have experienced the artistic exposure that was enjoyed by Virgilio Mendez (1941–2003). Born in Santo Domingo during the artistic renaissance that was ushered in by the arrival of European exiles (Manolo Pascual, Josep Gausachs, George Hausdorf), Mendez's early exposure to art were the works of Jose Vela Zanetti (1913-1999), an artist of Spanish origin that settled in the Dominican Republic as an exile of his country's civil war (1940-1953).

On the seashore
1978. Watercolor, acrylic and pen on paper. 62 x 47 cm

José Cestero, artist from Santo Domingo

I paint because I like it—My works are based on realities, not dreams...

As a young aspiring artist, José Cestero (Santo Domingo, 1937) studied art under Joseph Fulop, Gilberto Hernández Ortega and José Gausach at National School of Fine Arts—enrolling in 1950 and graduating in 1954.

Soon after his graduation, refusing mandatory military service imposed by the Trujillo dictatirship, Cestero travels to the United States. He returns to the Dominican Republic after Trujillo's assassination (1961), joining Silvano Lora, José Ramírez Conde, Iván Tovar and Ada Balcácer in the formation of the avant-garde group called 'Art and Liberation'.

In 2015, Cestero received the National Fine Arts Award, which is awarded each year in recognition of an artist's career and contributions to the development of the national art.

José Cestero has been widely recognized by art historians and collectors in the Dominican Republic, for the simple style and free expressions of his paintings. To which the artist has added:

The most difficult part, if you can say that there is such a thing. Is choosing the colors, and having the right tones to capture in the artwork, what you expect the public to perceive when they see one of my creations.

Rosa Idalia Garcia, artist from Santiago de los Caballeros

Abstract artist, Rosa Idalia García was born 1944, in the city of Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic. A student of the School of Fine Arts in her hometown, Garcia also received art lessons from Yoryi Morel (Santiago, 1906-1976) and Federico Izquierdo (Moncion, 1904-2004).

"Ojo de buey" completed in 1968

"Helecho" completed in 1969

Throughout her career, now spanning five decades, this artist has enjoyed the admiration of art lovers and critics; She was awarded in the IV and V Eduardo Leon Jimenes Art Contest in the Painting category with the works Ojo de Buey and Helecho, respectively. Her works are part of the collections of the Museum of Modern Art of Santo Domingo, the Chamber of Deputies of the Dominican Republic and the Centro Cultural Eduardo León Jimenes in Santiago.

Garcia is also recognized for her role in advancing the arts in the Dominican Republic; she's held leadership roles at various cultural institutions, such as the Center of Culture of Santiago, the library and art gallery Yoryi Morel, the Department of Fine Arts of the Institute of Culture and Art of Santiago (ICA), the Historical Museum of Santiago and the Casa de Arte Cultural center in Santiago.

"Margarita antes de Soto" completed in 1975

"Decompocision Vegetal" completed in 1990

"Nacio varon" completed in 2008

"Contendientes" completed in 2012

"Encuentro" completed in 2014

"Pensativa" completed in 2014

"Ozama" completed in 2015

"Encuentro" completed in 2017