Lorenzo Homar
Encyclopedia
Lorenzo Homar is considered by many to be Puerto Rico's greatest graphic artist.
" Puerta de Tierra of San Juan, Puerto Rico
, inherited his love for the arts from both of his parents. His father was an arts promoter and his mother a pianist. He went to grammar school in San Juan. At a young age he moved with his family to New York
. Because of the financial situation of his family, Homar quit high school and went to work for a textile factory. In 1931, he attended New York's Art Students League where he learned the art of drawing under the guidance of George Bridgman
.
Homar joined the jeweler House of Cartier
in 1936 in New York as an apprentice designer. This was of great significance for his artistic development because during this time he studied engraving, drawing and history of design in a traditional workshop system. Furthermore, income from his position at Cartier allowed Homar to take night classes in painting, design and typography at Pratt Institute
.
. He saw action in the Philippines
where he was wounded and for which he received the Purple Heart
. Homar continued to broaden his skills during the War, in which he served in an Army Intelligence Unit. He developed a talent for cartography working for the Second Amphibious Combat Engineers Brigade, and published military sketches in numerous American journals. When he returned from the war, he enrolled in the School of the Brooklyn Museum of Art in 1946. While there, he was able to meet and learn from such artists as Ben Shahn
, Rufino Tamayo
and Gabor Peterdi.
, Julio Rosado del Valle
and René Marqués
, was the co-founder of the "Centro de Arte Puertorriqueño" (Puerto Rican Arts Center, or CAP). He was later named the director of the Graphics Studio of the Graphic Art Division of Puerto Rico's Department of Community Education (DivEdCo). This is when he created most of his greatest works of art. Homar designed the logo of the "Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña " (Institute of Puerto Rican Culture
) known as the ICP, and he also established the Institute's Graphic Arts Workshop. During the decade of the 1960s Homar began to show his growing mastery of the techniques of graphic printmaking, particularly in silkscreen. In 1975, he established his own printing studio, and among his many works are the posters he designed in 1979, for the VIII Pan American Games
.
The admiration that Homar felt for the masters of the graphic arts led him to distinguish himself as a designer of multiple works of art. His posters, drawings and graphics elevated Puerto Rican graphic arts to a new level of worldwide admiration.
in 1979. The Metropolitan Museum of Art
purchased some of his works. The University of Puerto Rico
proclaimed him a Doctorate "Honoris Causa" and the Puerto Rican Institute of Culture presented him with the National Medal of Honor in 2003.
Early years
Homar, born in the "BarrioBarrio
Barrio is a Spanish word meaning district or neighborhood.-Usage:In its formal usage in English, barrios are generally considered cohesive places, sharing, for example, a church and traditions such as feast days...
" Puerta de Tierra of San Juan, Puerto Rico
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...
, inherited his love for the arts from both of his parents. His father was an arts promoter and his mother a pianist. He went to grammar school in San Juan. At a young age he moved with his family to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Because of the financial situation of his family, Homar quit high school and went to work for a textile factory. In 1931, he attended New York's Art Students League where he learned the art of drawing under the guidance of George Bridgman
George Bridgman
George Brant Bridgman was a Canadian-American painter, writer, and teacher in the fields of anatomy and figure drawing. Bridgman taught anatomy for artists at the Art Students League of New York for some 45 years....
.
Homar joined the jeweler House of Cartier
Cartier SA
Cartier S.A., commonly known as Cartier , is a French luxury jeweler and watch manufacturer. The corporation carries the name of the Cartier family of jewellers whose control ended in 1964 and who were known for numerous pieces including the "Bestiary" , the diamond necklace created for Bhupinder...
in 1936 in New York as an apprentice designer. This was of great significance for his artistic development because during this time he studied engraving, drawing and history of design in a traditional workshop system. Furthermore, income from his position at Cartier allowed Homar to take night classes in painting, design and typography at Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute is a private art college in New York City located in Brooklyn, New York, with satellite campuses in Manhattan and Utica. Pratt is one of the leading undergraduate art schools in the United States and offers programs in Architecture, Graphic Design, History of Art and Design,...
.
World War II
When the United States entered World War II, Homar joined the ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. He saw action in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
where he was wounded and for which he received the Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
. Homar continued to broaden his skills during the War, in which he served in an Army Intelligence Unit. He developed a talent for cartography working for the Second Amphibious Combat Engineers Brigade, and published military sketches in numerous American journals. When he returned from the war, he enrolled in the School of the Brooklyn Museum of Art in 1946. While there, he was able to meet and learn from such artists as Ben Shahn
Ben Shahn
Ben Shahn was a Lithuanian-born American artist. He is best known for his works of social realism, his left-wing political views, and his series of lectures published as The Shape of Content.-Biography:...
, Rufino Tamayo
Rufino Tamayo
Rufino Tamayo was a Mexican painter of Zapotec heritage, born in Oaxaca de Juárez, Mexico. Tamayo was active in the mid-20th century in Mexico and New York, painting figurative abstraction with surrealist influences....
and Gabor Peterdi.
Early Career in Puerto Rico
Homar returned to Puerto Rico in 1950, where together with other artists, such as Rafael TufiñoRafael Tufiño
Rafael Tufiño Figueroa was a Puerto Rican painter, printmaker and cultural figure in Puerto Rico, known locally as the "Painter of the People"...
, Julio Rosado del Valle
Julio Rosado del Valle
Julio Rosado del Valle , was an internationally known abstract expressionist.-Early years:Rosado del Valle was born in Cataño, Puerto Rico and as a young child would always be drawing or painting. In his primary school his teachers recognized his artistic talents...
and René Marqués
René Marques
René Marqués was a renowned Puerto Rican short story writer and playwright.-Early years:Marqués was born, raised and educated in the city of Arecibo...
, was the co-founder of the "Centro de Arte Puertorriqueño" (Puerto Rican Arts Center, or CAP). He was later named the director of the Graphics Studio of the Graphic Art Division of Puerto Rico's Department of Community Education (DivEdCo). This is when he created most of his greatest works of art. Homar designed the logo of the "Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña " (Institute of Puerto Rican Culture
Institute of Puerto Rican Culture
The Institute of Puerto Rican Culture , or ICP, for short, is an institution of the Government of Puerto Rico responsible for the establishment of the cultural policies required in order to study, preserve, promote, enrich, and diffuse the cultural values of Puerto Rico...
) known as the ICP, and he also established the Institute's Graphic Arts Workshop. During the decade of the 1960s Homar began to show his growing mastery of the techniques of graphic printmaking, particularly in silkscreen. In 1975, he established his own printing studio, and among his many works are the posters he designed in 1979, for the VIII Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
.
The admiration that Homar felt for the masters of the graphic arts led him to distinguish himself as a designer of multiple works of art. His posters, drawings and graphics elevated Puerto Rican graphic arts to a new level of worldwide admiration.
Honors and recognitions
Among the honors and recognitions that Homar received were the exhibition of his works in the Ponce Museum of ArtPonce Museum of Art
Museo de Arte de Ponce, or MAP, is an art museum located on Las Americas Avenue in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It is considered the finest art museum in Puerto Rico. It houses a collection of European art, as well as work by Puerto Rican artists. The largest art museum in the Caribbean, it has also been...
in 1979. The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a renowned art museum in New York City. Its permanent collection contains more than two million works, divided into nineteen curatorial departments. The main building, located on the eastern edge of Central Park along Manhattan's Museum Mile, is one of the...
purchased some of his works. The University of Puerto Rico
University of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
proclaimed him a Doctorate "Honoris Causa" and the Puerto Rican Institute of Culture presented him with the National Medal of Honor in 2003.
Military awards and recognitions
Among Homar's military decorations and medals were the following:
Purple HeartPurple HeartThe Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign MedalAsiatic-Pacific Campaign MedalThe Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal is a service decoration of the Second World War which was awarded to any member of the United States military who served in the Pacific Theater from 1941 to 1945 and was created on November 6, 1942 by issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The medal was...
with two Bronze Service Stars
World War II Victory MedalWorld War II Victory MedalThe World War II Victory Medal is a decoration of the United States military which was created by an act of Congress in July 1945. The decoration commemorates military service during World War II and is awarded to any member of the United States military, including members of the armed forces of...
Philippine Liberation MedalPhilippine Liberation MedalThe Philippine Liberation Medal is a military award of the Republic of the Philippines which was created by an order of Commonwealth Army of the Philippines Headquarters on December 20, 1944...
Later years
Lorenzo Homar died in the city of San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered in the sea. He was survived by his wife Dorothy, two daughters, Susan and Laura, and four grandchildren.See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans