Antonio Broccoli Porto
Encyclopedia
Antonio Broccoli Porto (born September 19, 1955) is a renowned Puerto Rican
artist
, visual artist and sculptor.
national and his mother's family, Porto, claim their Puerto Rican
heritage, having originally settled in the town of Cayey
. His parents met and married in New York City
where Broccoli Porto was born. As a young child, he became interested in art and his artistic talents were appreciated by both his family and teachers alike. After he received his primary and secondary education he enrolled and entered Iona College
, New Rochelle, New York. There he took up fine art studies and earned a B.A. degree in Arts.
and continued his artistic studies at the "Accademia di Belle Arti Brera
" (Brera Academy of Fine Arts) in Milan
. http://www.accademiadibrera.milano.it/ The artist has a dual citizenship
, that of Italy
and the United States
. When he returned to New York, he studied two years of Latin percussion at the Harbour Conservatory located in "El Barrio
" of Manhattan
. Influenced by his great love of Puerto Rican culture, Broccoli Porto moved to Puerto Rico and enrolled in "La Liga de Arte" (League of Art) in San Juan
. He also studied for three years at "Escuela de Artes Plasticas" (School of the Plastic Arts) located in Old San Juan
. There he took art courses on painting and sculpture. Broccoli Porto had as professors Eric Lluch, an understudy of Andy Warhol
and Master Sculptor José Garcia Campos, who would be of great influence in his metal works. Puerto Rican music
became an important part of his life and is reflected in his art. A large amount of his collection is made up of musical themes interpreted through the plastic arts. Professor Judy Betts (a renowned writer and Watercolorist from Louisiana
, U.S.A.) served as a great influence his use of blends and transparencies in watercolour paintings, for which he is well known. Broccoli Porto eventually decided to use his maternal surname, Porto, as his artist signature because of its ties to the island of Puerto Rico.
Broccoli Porto was a member of The Association of Watercolorists of Puerto Rico (AAPR) for more than 8 years and served for a brief period as Vice President of that organization. He is listed with the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña (Puerto Rican Institute of Culture) as a Puerto Rican visual artist and sculptor. He is an active member of the UNESCO
Artists of Puerto Rico.
version of William Shakespeare
's A Midsummer Night's Dream
, presented at Bellas Artes de Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
, commissioned Broccoli Porto for the Caribbean Version set and costume designs. He was awarded a UNESCO Medal in December 2000. In December 2001, he won a 2nd Prize in the Graphics Category at the "El Dia Nacional del Artista Pintor Puertorriqueño" (Annual National Day of the Puerto Rican Artistic Painter). His painting Madonna Saurie graces the cover of the novel The "Princess Papaya" by Cuban American
author, Himilce Novas
, which was released on September 30, 2004 by Arte Publico Press, of the University of Houston
, Texas
.
Broccoli Porto's works have been featured in the following:
Broccoli Porto's works were published in "Libro de Arte Iberoamericano Contemporaneo" (Book of Art of Contemporary LatinAmerica) an art encyclopedia of Latin America
n artists published by AT Cultura of Córdoba, Argentina
.
Some of his works are found at:
Amongst the notable personalities who own works of art by Broccoli Porto are: Puerto Rican actress and singer Ruth Fernández
, actress and singer Jennifer Lopez
, Italian singer Laura Pausini
, Brazilian Diva, Gal Costa
, queen of Bosa Nova, Giorgio Starassoldo Graffenberg of Strassoldo of Italy and former Puerto Rican governor Sila M. Calderón.
, born Bernardo dei Paganelli di Montemagno 1145. The Paganelli of Montemagno were intermarried into the Broccoli bloodline. His grandfather was also the cousin of Albert Romolo Broccoli
(1909–1996), who produced more than forty movies, but will be remembered by most for his contributions to one of the most successful film franchises in history, James Bond
.
on September 14, 2005 by ATCultura publishers. Currently, Broccoli Porto lives and maintains his studio, "Art Studio Porto", in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
.
Puerto Ricans in the United States
Stateside Puerto Ricans are American citizens of Puerto Rican origin, including those who migrated from Puerto Rico to the United States and those who were born outside of Puerto Rico in the United States...
artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
, visual artist and sculptor.
Early years
Broccoli Porto's father was an ItalianItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
national and his mother's family, Porto, claim their Puerto Rican
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
heritage, having originally settled in the town of Cayey
Cayey, Puerto Rico
Cayey is a mountain town in central Puerto Rico located on the Central Mountain range, north of Salinas and Guayama; south of Cidra and Caguas; east of Aibonito and Salinas; and west of San Lorenzo Cayey is spread over 21 wards and Cayey Pueblo...
. His parents met and married in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
where Broccoli Porto was born. As a young child, he became interested in art and his artistic talents were appreciated by both his family and teachers alike. After he received his primary and secondary education he enrolled and entered Iona College
Iona College (New York)
Iona College is located in New Rochelle, New York, 20 miles north of Manhattan in suburban Westchester County. The college occupies 35 acres on North Ave. The college also operates a Graduate Center in Pearl River, Rockland County, New York....
, New Rochelle, New York. There he took up fine art studies and earned a B.A. degree in Arts.
First art exhibition
In May 1979 Broccoli Porto held an art exhibition in the Thomas Payne Museum of New Rochelle, New York, as part of a Nationally accredited Honors Program Thesis entiltled "Historical Landscapes". In the 1980s, he traveled to ItalyItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and continued his artistic studies at the "Accademia di Belle Arti Brera
Pinacoteca Brera
The Pinacoteca di Brera is an art collection in Milan, Italy. It contains one of the foremost collections of Italian paintings, an outgrowth of the cultural program of the Brera Academy, which shares the site in the Palazzo Brera.The Palazzo Brera owes its name to the Germanic braida, indicating a...
" (Brera Academy of Fine Arts) in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
. http://www.accademiadibrera.milano.it/ The artist has a dual citizenship
Citizenship
Citizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
, that of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. When he returned to New York, he studied two years of Latin percussion at the Harbour Conservatory located in "El Barrio
Spanish Harlem
East Harlem, also known as Spanish Harlem and El Barrio, is a section of Harlem in the northeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. East Harlem is one of the largest predominantly Latino communities in New York City. It includes the area formerly known as Italian Harlem, in which...
" of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. Influenced by his great love of Puerto Rican culture, Broccoli Porto moved to Puerto Rico and enrolled in "La Liga de Arte" (League of Art) in San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
. He also studied for three years at "Escuela de Artes Plasticas" (School of the Plastic Arts) located in Old San Juan
Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
Old San Juan is the oldest settlement within Puerto Rico and it is the historic colonial section of San Juan, Puerto Rico.-Location:...
. There he took art courses on painting and sculpture. Broccoli Porto had as professors Eric Lluch, an understudy of Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol
Andrew Warhola , known as Andy Warhol, was an American painter, printmaker, and filmmaker who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art...
and Master Sculptor José Garcia Campos, who would be of great influence in his metal works. Puerto Rican music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
became an important part of his life and is reflected in his art. A large amount of his collection is made up of musical themes interpreted through the plastic arts. Professor Judy Betts (a renowned writer and Watercolorist from Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, U.S.A.) served as a great influence his use of blends and transparencies in watercolour paintings, for which he is well known. Broccoli Porto eventually decided to use his maternal surname, Porto, as his artist signature because of its ties to the island of Puerto Rico.
Broccoli Porto was a member of The Association of Watercolorists of Puerto Rico (AAPR) for more than 8 years and served for a brief period as Vice President of that organization. He is listed with the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña (Puerto Rican Institute of Culture) as a Puerto Rican visual artist and sculptor. He is an active member of the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
Artists of Puerto Rico.
Honors and awards
In June 1999, Juan Carlos Morales, director of the SpanishSpanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
version of William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
's A Midsummer Night's Dream
A Midsummer Night's Dream
A Midsummer Night's Dream is a play that was written by William Shakespeare. It is believed to have been written between 1590 and 1596. It portrays the events surrounding the marriage of the Duke of Athens, Theseus, and the Queen of the Amazons, Hippolyta...
, presented at Bellas Artes de Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
Guaynabo is a municipality in the northern part of Puerto Rico, located in the northern coast of the island, north of Aguas Buenas; south of Cataño; east of Bayamón; and west of San Juan...
, commissioned Broccoli Porto for the Caribbean Version set and costume designs. He was awarded a UNESCO Medal in December 2000. In December 2001, he won a 2nd Prize in the Graphics Category at the "El Dia Nacional del Artista Pintor Puertorriqueño" (Annual National Day of the Puerto Rican Artistic Painter). His painting Madonna Saurie graces the cover of the novel The "Princess Papaya" by Cuban American
Cuban American
A Cuban American is a United States citizen who traces his or her "national origin" to Cuba. Cuban Americans are also considered native born Americans with Cuban parents or Cuban-born persons who were raised and educated in US...
author, Himilce Novas
Himilce Novas
Himilce Novas is a novelist, historian, journalist and human rights activist.Born in Havana, Cuba, in 1960 her family fled to the United States. Novas was educated in New York City, where she has spent most of her life....
, which was released on September 30, 2004 by Arte Publico Press, of the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
Featured works
- The set design of the International cable televisionCable televisionCable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
show on Lifetime TV, "The Division". - In February, 2000, at the Gallery BAI, a private Gallery in The Guggenheim MuseumSolomon R. Guggenheim FoundationThe Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation is a nonprofit corporation founded in 1937 by philanthropist Solomon R. Guggenheim and artist Hilla von Rebay. The first museum established by the foundation was the "Museum of Non-Objective Art", which was housed in rented space on Park Avenue in New York....
, SohoSohoSoho is an area of the City of Westminster and part of the West End of London. Long established as an entertainment district, for much of the 20th century Soho had a reputation for sex shops as well as night life and film industry. Since the early 1980s, the area has undergone considerable...
. - "El Maravilloso Mundo de la Santería", a documetary on Afro-Caribbean diaspora, by Metropolitan Films, 2000,a GalavisionGalavisiónGalavisión is a Miami, Florida based Spanish language cable network owned by Univision Communications, Inc. The station is unrelated to the Mexican channel of the same name, other than sharing the Televisa-produced programming.-History:...
presentation - The Television Documentary "Bomba y Plena de Puerto Rico" aired on New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
Network's "Imagines" on November 2002. - The Muestra Nacional de Artes Plasticas, Instituto de la Cultura Puertorriqueña, from September to December in 2003 in the Old San Juan Princessa Museum.
- His Sculptures and Paintings were exhibited in the inauguration of "Casa del Presidente" (UNITEC) for El Museo de Aguadilla y el Caribe.
- "Bomba, a Celebration of Sight and Sound", on November 12, 2005 at Montclair State UniversityMontclair State UniversityMontclair State University is a public research university located in the Upper Montclair section of Montclair, the Great Notch area of Little Falls, and Clifton, New Jersey. As of October 2009, there were 18,171 total enrolled students: 14,139 undergraduate students and 4,032 graduate students...
in New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, in celebration of Diversity Week. - "Bomba, a Celebration of Sight and Sound", at Essex Community College in Newark, New JerseyNewark, New JerseyNewark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
. - Broccoli Porto was the ARTNOIR'S Magazine "Feature Artist of The Month". His painting "El Bombero" was acclaimed by ARTNOIR.
Broccoli Porto's works were published in "Libro de Arte Iberoamericano Contemporaneo" (Book of Art of Contemporary LatinAmerica) an art encyclopedia of Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
n artists published by AT Cultura of Córdoba, Argentina
Córdoba, Argentina
Córdoba is a city located near the geographical center of Argentina, in the foothills of the Sierras Chicas on the Suquía River, about northwest of Buenos Aires. It is the capital of Córdoba Province. Córdoba is the second-largest city in Argentina after the federal capital Buenos Aires, with...
.
Some of his works are found at:
- The Puerto Rico Tourism Bureau in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
- Museo del Niño (Children's Museum) in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico.
- R-G Premier Bank Headquarters in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico.
- The Carnegie Library in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico.
- El Museo de Nuestra Raiz Africana (The Museum of our African Roots) in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico.
- La FortalezaLa FortalezaLa Fortaleza is the current official residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico. It was built between 1533 and 1540 to defend the harbor of San Juan. The structure is also known as Palacio de Santa Catalina . It is the oldest executive mansion in the New World...
(The Governor's Palace) San Juan, Puerto Rico. - Searle Pharmaceuticals Headquarters in Caguas, Puerto RicoCaguas, Puerto RicoCaguas , founded in 1775, is a city and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the Central Mountain Range of Puerto Rico, south of San Juan and Trujillo Alto, west of Gurabo and San Lorenzo, east of Aguas Buenas, Cidra, and Cayey....
. - Executive Suites of San Juan Intercontinental Hotel, Isla Verde, Puerto Rico.
- Hyatt Cerromar Dorado Hotel.
- Nueva Esperanza Community Museum, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. - Montclair State UniversityMontclair State UniversityMontclair State University is a public research university located in the Upper Montclair section of Montclair, the Great Notch area of Little Falls, and Clifton, New Jersey. As of October 2009, there were 18,171 total enrolled students: 14,139 undergraduate students and 4,032 graduate students...
, George Segal (artist)George Segal (artist)George Segal was an American painter and sculptor associated with the Pop Art movement. He was presented with a National Medal of Arts in 1999.-Works:...
Museum - Fundación Rafael CepedaRafael CepedaRafael Cepeda Atiles a.k.a. "The Patriarch of the Bomba and Plena" was the patriarch of the Cepeda family, known internationally as the exponents of Afro-Puerto Rican folk music.-Early years:...
, Santurce Puerto Rico
Amongst the notable personalities who own works of art by Broccoli Porto are: Puerto Rican actress and singer Ruth Fernández
Ruth Fernández
Ruth Fernández, a.k.a. Titi Ruth , is a Puerto Rican singer and former member of the Puerto Rican Senate. According to the "Comisiones Nacionales para la Celebración del Quinto Centenario" is said to be one of three artists whose contributions have helped unite Latin America...
, actress and singer Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller...
, Italian singer Laura Pausini
Laura Pausini
Laura Pausini, is a Grammy Award-winning Italian soul singer-songwriter. She debuted in 1993, winning the newcomer artists' section of the 43rd Sanremo Music Festival with the song "La solitudine", which became an Italian standard and an international hit, reaching the top spot on the Italian...
, Brazilian Diva, Gal Costa
Gal Costa
Gal Costa is a Brazilian singer of popular music.-Early life:...
, queen of Bosa Nova, Giorgio Starassoldo Graffenberg of Strassoldo of Italy and former Puerto Rican governor Sila M. Calderón.
Ancestry
According to Broccoli Porto, one his ancestor's was Pope Eugene IIIPope Eugene III
Pope Blessed Eugene III , born Bernardo da Pisa, was Pope from 1145 to 1153. He was the first Cistercian to become Pope.-Early life:...
, born Bernardo dei Paganelli di Montemagno 1145. The Paganelli of Montemagno were intermarried into the Broccoli bloodline. His grandfather was also the cousin of Albert Romolo Broccoli
Albert R. Broccoli
Albert Romolo Broccoli, CBE , nicknamed "Cubby", was an American film producer, who made more than 40 motion pictures throughout his career, most of them in the United Kingdom, and often filmed at Pinewood Studios. Co-founder of Danjaq, LLC and EON Productions, Broccoli is most notable as the...
(1909–1996), who produced more than forty movies, but will be remembered by most for his contributions to one of the most successful film franchises in history, James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
.
Currently
Broccoli Porto together with two other Puerto Rican artists (Mariestella Colón Astacio http://mariestella.com and Estefan Gargost http://gargost.com) were chosen as representatives of contemporary Puerto Rican art for the "Libro de Arte IberoAmericano Contemporaneo" (Book of Latin-American Contemporary Art) written by Dr. María Elena Troncoso and Ricardo Cesar Lescano Grosso . The book, which is Encyclopedic Text of Latin American Artists, was published in Cordoba, ArgentinaCórdoba, Argentina
Córdoba is a city located near the geographical center of Argentina, in the foothills of the Sierras Chicas on the Suquía River, about northwest of Buenos Aires. It is the capital of Córdoba Province. Córdoba is the second-largest city in Argentina after the federal capital Buenos Aires, with...
on September 14, 2005 by ATCultura publishers. Currently, Broccoli Porto lives and maintains his studio, "Art Studio Porto", in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
Guaynabo is a municipality in the northern part of Puerto Rico, located in the northern coast of the island, north of Aguas Buenas; south of Cataño; east of Bayamón; and west of San Juan...
.