Lorenzo Homar Gelabert

Lorenzo Homar Gelabert;Lorenzo Homar

Place: San Juan

Born: 1913

Death: 2004

Biography:

Lorenzo Homar Gelabert was a renowned Puerto Rican printmaker, painter, and calligrapher, whose artwork stretches to three main workshops: Centro de Arte Puertorriqueño (CPA), DIVEDCO (División de Educación a la Comunidad), and the Taller de Artes Gráficas of the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña (ICP). Born in 1913 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Homar's artistic journey was marked by his unique blend of traditional techniques and modern themes.

Early Years and Education

Homar's early years were marked by financial difficulties, which led his family to move to New York City in 1928. Despite these challenges, he attended the Art Students League in New York, where he learned drawing under the guidance of George Bridgman. He later joined the House of Cartier as an apprentice designer and studied engraving, drawing, and history of design.

World War II and Career

Homar's participation in World War II was marked by his service in the Pacific Campaign, where he was wounded and received the Purple Heart Medal. After the war, he enrolled in the School of the Brooklyn Museum of Art, where he met and learned from notable artists such as Ben Shahn and Rufino Tamayo. In 1950, Homar returned to Puerto Rico and co-founded the Centro de Arte Puertorriqueño (CAP). He later became the director of the Graphics Studio of the Graphic Art Division of Puerto Rico's Department of Community Education (DIVEDCO).

Awards and Recognitions

Homar's works were exhibited in various museums, including the Ponce Museum of Art. The Metropolitan Museum of Art purchased some of his works, and he was proclaimed a Doctorate "Honoris Causa" by the University of Puerto Rico. In 2003, Homar received the National Medal of Honor from the Puerto Rican Institute of Culture. Some of his notable works include: