Pablo Cambó
La Habana, Cuba, 1948
Biography Details
In 1960, at the age of 12, he emigrated to Puerto Rico with his parents as a consequence of the Cuban Revolution of 1959. In 1968, he was drafted into the United States Army for a term of 2 years and 9 months, serving in the Vietnam War with two tours totaling 18 months. After his military service, he moved to Miami, where he received an Associate Degree from Miami-Dade Community College in 1973. He then returned to Puerto Rico to settle permanently. From 1973 to 1977, he worked in various media, mostly in advertising. In 1977, he became independent as a photographer and has since presented his work individually in various galleries of major institutions in the country, such as Casa Aboy, the Interamerican University (Bayamón Campus), Polytechnic University, the Puerto Rico Photographers Association, the Art Gallery of the University of the Sacred Heart, among others. Collectively, his work has been part of important exhibitions presented in prestigious institutions and museums in Puerto Rico and abroad, such as the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., the Museum of Fine Arts in Mexico City, the Museo del Barrio in New York, the Bronx Museum of the Arts in New York, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Caracas, Venezuela, among others. Locally, his work has been displayed in the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Art of Puerto Rico (most recently in "Human Geography" and "Puerto Rico, Plural"), the Museum of History, Anthropology, and Art of the University of Puerto Rico, the Museum of the Americas, the Museum of the Arsenal de la Puntilla, the Carnegie Library, and others. In 1983, his work was published by EnFoco in "Primera Luz" alongside the works of María Angelica Fernández, Carlos Arnaldo Meyners, and Hernán "Tito" Guzmán. This work was simultaneously presented in a group exhibition at the Cayman Gallery in New York in February 1983, curated by Charlie Biasiny-Rivera. Later, in 1986, his work was published again in "Nueva Luz," another EnFoco publication. In 2000, he presented "Generations II, Puerto Ricans at the End of the Century" at the headquarters of the Puerto Rican Institute of Culture. This informal ethnographic portrait collection was displayed as a traveling exhibition at the Photojournalism Workshop, the Interamerican University, the Polytechnic University, and the American Airlines "Admiral's Club" at the Isla Verde International Airport, where it was exhibited for 3 months to thousands of travelers. "Generations..." was also accompanied by texts by writer James Stevens-Arce and, in 2003, was submitted to the "Documentary Work" competition sponsored by Duke University in North Carolina, where it was selected as a semi-finalist from over 125 participants from around the world. His work has received numerous awards, including recognition in the second and third editions of the Puerto Rico Photography Biennial, three awards from the Puerto Rico Photojournalists Association, and was named "Best Photography Exhibition" for 2007 by the International Association of Art Critics (AICA - Puerto Rico Chapter) for his solo exhibition "Iconography of an Era, 21 Artists" at the Art Gallery of the University of the Sacred Heart. He was also awarded at the First Commercial Art Salon, sponsored by the UNESCO Chapter of Puerto Rico. In 2017, he published the book "Iconography, 5 Years of Portraits" with the University of Puerto Rico Press. This is a compilation of iconographic portraits of members of Puerto Rican society, published over five years (1986-1991) in a Sunday supplement of a local newspaper. He has served as a jury member in various photography competitions and exhibitions throughout his career.
Artist Statement
“In his artistic execution, he has developed the insight (visual acuity) typical of the primitive man to capture and interpret the milder expressions of nature and its inhabitants. This instinct that was being rapidly lost has reappeared with force before those who currently translate the Faustian desire of stopping time.”
Source: José Antonio Pérez Ruiz, Catálogo exposición, Generaciones II: puertorriqueños de fin de siglo.
Formation
Education
1973
- Associate Degree of Fine Arts. Miami-Dade Community College, Miami, Florida, United States
2005
- Computer Design Course. Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Photoshop Course. Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Professional Experience
2012
- Member of the Jury. Eighth International Biennial of Photography of Puerto Rico, Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2011
- Member of the Jury. Mandín Rodríguez Competition, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2008
- Member of the Jury. Overseas Press Club Competition, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2006
- Member of the Jury. Mandín Rodríguez Competition, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2005
- Member of the Jury. Mandín Rodríguez Competition, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2004
- Member of the Jury. Mandín Rodríguez Competition, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2002
- Member of the Jury. Annual Exposition, Asociación de Fotoperiodistas de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2000
- Member of the Jury. Annual Exposition, Asociación de Fotoperiodistas de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1998
- Member of the Jury. First International Biennial of Photography of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1997
- Member of the Jury. Annual Exposition, Asociación de Fotoperiodistas de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1996
- Member of the Jury. Annual Exposition, Asociación de Fotoperiodistas de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1995
- Member of the Jury. Annual Exposition, Asociación de Fotoperiodistas de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1980
- Member of the Jury. Annual Exposition of Students, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Río Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1979
- Member of the Jury. Annual Exposition, Asociación de Fotoperiodistas de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Exhibitions
Solo Shows
2008
- Iconografía de una era: 21 Artistas, Galería PL900, Casa Aboy, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2007
- Iconografía de una era: 21 Artistas, Galería de Arte, Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2003
- Generaciones II, Puertorriqueños de Fin de Siglo, Taller de Fotoperiodismo, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Generaciones II, Puertorriqueños de Fin de Siglo, Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Bayamón, Bayamón, Puerto Rico
- Generaciones II, Puertorriqueños de Fin de Siglo, Admiral’s Club, Terminal de American Airlines, Aeropuerto Internacional Luis Muñoz Marín, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2002
- Generaciones II, Puertorriqueños de Fin de Siglo, Universidad Politécnica de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2000
- Generaciones II, Puertorriqueños de Fin de Siglo, Antiguo Asilo de Beneficencia, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1983
- Generaciones, Galería Zoom, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1981
- Pablo Cambó, Fotografía Reciente, Galería PL900, Casa Aboy, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1979
- Nuevas Visiones, Bell, Book & Candle, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1978
- Entre lo Real y lo Irreal, Galería PL900, Casa Aboy, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1977
- N.Y. y Santo Domingo, Experiencias Visuales, Galería PL900, Casa Aboy, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1975
- Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Group Shows
2011
- Signos Vitales,Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Arte en el Medio: 35 Años de Fotografía Puertorriqueña, Museo de las Américas, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- FotoMac, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2010
- 7ma. Bienal de Fotografía de Puerto Rico, Museo de Las Américas, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2009
- Puerto Rico: Geografía Humana, Imágenes del Siglo XXI, Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2008
- Colección Reyes-Veray, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- 6ta. Bienal de Fotografía de Puerto Rico, Museo de Las Américas, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2007
- Contexto puertorriqueño: del rococó colonial al arte global, Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico,
2006
- 5ta. Bienal de Fotografía de Puerto Rico, Museo de Las Américas, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2004
- Saludo a la Bienal, Museo de Las Américas, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2003
- Muestra Nacional de Arte Puertorriqueño, Antiguo Arsenal de la Marina Española, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2002
- La Fotografía como Concepto, Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Autorretratos II, Museo de Las Américas, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Primavera Fotográfica, Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico, Bayamón Campus, Bayamón, Puerto Rico
- 3ra. Bienal de Fotografía de Puerto Rico, Antiguo Arsenal de la Marina Española, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2001
- El Arte en Puerto Rico a través del Tiempo 1940-2000, Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2000
- 2da. Bienal de Fotografía de Puerto Rico, Museo de Las Américas, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1998
- Salón de Invitados, Bienal Internacional de Fotografía, Convento de los Dominicos, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Naturaleza, Centro Cardiovascular de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1997
- American Voices, International Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, United States
- Primavera Fotográfica, Biblioteca Carnegie, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Premio de Fotografía Latinoamericana Josune Dorronsoro, Museo de Bellas Artes, Caracas, Venezuela
1996
- Primavera Fotográfica, Convento de los Dominicos, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1994
- Fotofest, Houston, Texas, United States
1993
- Muestra de Arte Puertorriqueño, Museo del Grabado Latinoamericano, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1992
- Exposición Anual de Fotoperiodistas de Puerto Rico, Antiguo Arsenal de la Marina Española, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1991
- Exposición Anual de Fotoperiodistas de Puerto Rico, Antiguo Arsenal de la Marina Española, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1987
- Muestra de Arte, Plaza Las Américas, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1986
- A Decade of en Foco, Bronx Museum of Arts, New York, United States
- Muestra de Arte, Plaza Las Américas, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Nueva Fotografía Puertorriqueña, Museo de Historia, Antropología y Arte, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1985
- Muestra de Arte, Plaza Las Américas, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1983
- Primera Luz, Cayman Gallery, New York, United States
1982
- Primera Muestra de Fotografía Contemporánea Puertorriqueña, Galería PL900, Casa Aboy, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Salón UNESCO, Bonn, Alemania; Barcelona, Spain
1981
- Hecho en Latinoamérica, Museo de Bellas Artes, Mexico City, Mexico
- Autorretratos, Museo del Barrio, New York, United States
1980
- Arte y Arquitectura, Museo de Arte e Historia, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Foto, Broome Street, New York, United States
- Beetleboards del Caribe, Primer Salón de Arte Comercial, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1979
- El Niño, Galería PL900, Casa Aboy, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1975
- Puerto Rico, 3 Visiones, Museo de Historia, Antropología y Arte, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1974
- Dibujo, Grabado y Fotografía, Chase Manhattan Bank, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1973
- Photography in the 20th Century, Miami Art Center, Miami, Florida, United States
1972
- Student Show, Miami-Dade Community College, Miami, Florida, United States
Awards, Distinctions and Achievements
2013
- Grant. Taller de Fotoperiodismo for the production of the book, “Iconografía de una Era : 5 años de retratos”, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2007
- Photography Award. International Association of Art Critics, Puerto Rico Chapter, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2002
- Award. Third International Biennial of Photography of Puerto Rico, Antiguo Arsenal de la Marina Española, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2000
- Honorable Mention. Second International Biennial of Photography of Puerto Rico, Museo de Las Américas, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1992
- First Prize. Portrait Category, Asociación de Fotoperiodistas de Puerto Rico Competition, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Honorable Mention. Portrait Category, Asociación de Fotoperiodistas de Puerto Rico Competition, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1991
- Second Prize. Portrait Category, Industrial Photography Magazine, Melville, New York, United States
- First Prize. Illustrative Photography Category, Asociación de Fotoperiodistas de Puerto Rico Competition, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1980
- Honorable Mention. Photography Category, Beetleboards del Caribe and UNESCO de Puerto Rico
- First Commercial Art Salon, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Collections
- Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- En Foco Inc., New York, United States
- Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Bibliography
Newspapers
Alegre Barrios, Mario. “Con Voz Americana Pablo Cambó”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), 11 de mayo de 1997.
Alegre Barrios, Mario. “Fotógrafos Autorretratados”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), 1 de septiembre de 2002, p. 79.
Alegre Barrios, Mario. “Muestra Fotográfica del Museo”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), 14 de julio de 2002, p. 72.
De Orduña, Carlos. Revista Domingo, El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), 20 de noviembre de 1994.
Ferrer, Melba, “Seeing Through Pablo Cambo’s Lens”, San Juan Star (San Juan, PR), 12 de noviembre de 2002, p. 26.
Ferrer, Melba. “Art Critics Awards”. San Juan Star (San Juan, PR), 13 de marzo de 2001, p. 47.
Ferrer, Melba. “The Many Faces of Pablo Cambó”. San Juan Star (San Juan, PR), 30 de noviembre de 2000, p. 43.
Ferrer, Melba. “Through a Different Point of View”. San Juan Star (San Juan, PR), 17 de julio de 2002, p. P-1.
Heydrich Blanco, Teresita. “Rostros Sacados de la Vida Diaria”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), 13 de noviembre de 2002. p. 80
Pérez Ruiz, José Antonio. “Pablo Cambó: Generaciones II”. El Vocero (San Juan, PR), 9 de diciembre de 2000, pp. E4-E5.
Pérez Ruiz, José Antonio. “Segunda Bienal de Fotografía”. El Vocero (San Juan, PR), 4 de noviembre de 2000, p. E-18.
Rodríguez, Jorge. “AICA Nomina Excelencia en Arte”. El Vocero (San Juan, PR), 8 de marzo de 2001, p. E-18
Rodríguez, Jorge. “Exposiciones Ejemplares de Collazo, Ricarty y Dávila Rinaldi”. El Vocero (San Juan, PR), 29 de noviembre de 2000, p. E-16.
Rodríguez, Jorge. “La Primera Mirada del Espejo, Retratos de Pablo Cambó”. El Vocero (San Juan, PR), 2 de noviembre de 2002, pp. E-2, E-3.
Soto, Stella. “Ojos de Santurce”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), 8 de agosto de 1991, p. 73.
Vázquez Zapata, Larissa. “Mascaradas de Imágenes”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), 14 de enero de 2001, pp. 6-7.
Vázquez, Lupe. “Reseña de Generaciones II”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), 26 de noviembre de 2000, pp. 75-77
Magazines
Biasiny, Rivera, Charlie, “Nueva Luz”, Vol. 2, Núm. 3, 1988, pp. 12-21.
Figueroa Fontánez, Yanira, “Los Comestibles de Pablo Cambó”, Revista Caras, Año 8, Núm 7, pp. 100-101.
Luna, Nitza, “La Fotografía Ayer y Hoy en Puerto Rico”, Revista del Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, Año 2, Núm. 4, p. 40.
Revista Piso 13, Año 2, Vol. 2, p. 13.
Rodríguez, Yomaris, “Las Caras de Pablo Cambó”, Revista Caras, Año 11, Núm. 11, p. 43.
Santiago, Migdalia, “Desde mi Rincón”, Revista Puerto Rico Breeze, Vol. 7, Issue 65, p. 18.
Vera, María, “Las Rosas de Pablo Cambó”, Revista Caras, Año 10, Núm 2, p. 18.