Silvano Lora (Santo Domingo, 1931-2003)

Silvano Lora (1931-2003), was born in Santo Domingo, capital of the Dominican Republic.

A graduate of the National School of Fine Arts (Santo Domingo), he presented his first solo exhibition in 1951, at the Alianza Francesa de Santo Domingo (F. 1914). Silvano quickly jumped to the international stage, exhibiting in cities such as Sao Paolo in 1952, Puerto Rico (1954). Spain, Cairo, and Paris (1957-58), Copenhagen and Rome (1960), Panama, Moscow (1985) and South Korea.

A painter, sculptor and performer, Silvano Lora was also regarded for his social activism and 'non-conformist' style, his opposition to the Trujillo dictatorship and racial history of the Dominican Republic.

In 1992, in protest of the celebrations of the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' arrival in the Dominican Republic, Silvano Lora and other artist crossed the Ozama river in wooden canoes to bring attention to the plight of indigenous people not only in Dominican Republic but also throughout Latin America.

Silvano Lora, Ozama River crossing, 1992
Silvano Lora, Ozama River crossing, 1992


Photograph of Silvano Lora
Silvano Lora
Born 1931. Died 2003.

The Couple, 1954
The Couple, 1954, Acrylic on canvas
Suffering nun, 1954
Suffering nun, 1954
Title unknown, 1956
Title unknown, 1956
Sketch of horses, 1958
Sketch of horses, 1958
Vietnam series, 1970
Vietnam series, 1970
Vietnam series, 1971
Vietnam series, 1971
Wake up Juan, 1981
Wake up Juan, 1981
Title unknown, 1987
Title unknown, 1987
Untitled, 1987
Untitled, 1987
The deserted island, 1988
The deserted island, 1988