Amanda Carmona Bosch
San Juan, PR, 1956
Biography Details
Painter, drawer, engraver, sculptor, and collage artist. She began her art education at the age of eleven. As a university student, she studied under the guidance of Master Luisa Géigel Brunet at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. After completing her bachelor's degree in Humanities with a concentration in Fine Arts in 1977, she moved to Italy to study museum collections and later to Austria after receiving a scholarship from the Puerto Rican Institute of Culture. Since then, she has developed and exhibited her work in Austria, Spain, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the United States, where she completed a master's degree in 1998, also receiving invitations to various artist residencies. Throughout her career, Carmona Bosch has received numerous distinctions, including the National Merit Award in 1994 and the AICA award for best solo exhibition for her work Rojo Profundo in 2003. Carmona Bosch's artistic production is developed in series, focusing on the exploration of abstraction, rooted in intuitive drawing, through traditional techniques. His work constantly reflects on the traces left by lived experiences. Outside of mainstream circuits and far from trends and academia, his work has been exhibited and recognized by various institutional spheres, establishing him as a distinctive voice in Puerto Rican art.
Artist Statement
"The theoretical basis of my work is Modernism in the sense of its exploration of the formal elements of art, its infinite capacity for abstraction and revolutionary study of the psychology of design and workings of human perception.
More specifically, my intention has been to combine automatic surrealism understood, as Roberto Matta expressed it at the time, with the possibilities opened up by Cubism in terms of space/time representation.
The subject, what happens in each painting, ranges from re-interpretations of traditional themes in the history of oil painting, whether religious, mythological or of the Court, to subjects from everyday life, Puerto Rican motifs and women's issues. In any case, I have tried to express a vision of female sensitivity towards the issue.
It is a work where the psychological representation of the human figure is the main theme. This representation is achieved by visual analogies, my personal contribution to the history of visual language.
“My work focuses on psychological interpretation, through visual analogies, of life experiences as a dissatisfied woman, an ill-adapted migrant, and an artist going against the current of the contemporary canon. The intuitive drawing that forms the starting point of each piece intertwines the psyche with the social contexts encountered along the journey of life. The different series created over more than 45 years in various countries explore themes such as the life cycles of women and their bodies, intercultural and art-historical iconographies, death, war, nature, as well as abstract concepts from philosophy and science. By varying different degrees of abstraction, and using traditional techniques that exclude any use of technological devices, my art investigates the possible forms of the complexity of being and existence, between what is felt and what is thought. Degrees of abstraction, using traditional techniques that exclude any use of technological devices, my art explores the possible forms of the complexity of being and existing, between what is felt and what is thought."
Amanda Carmona Bosch
July 7, 2001
Formation
Education
1998
- Master of Fine Arte, Major in Painting. University of Massachusetts Amherst, Massachusetts, United States
1979
- Independent studies in painting and sculpture with Ewald Maurer and Tamara Horokova. Vienna, Austria
1977
- Bachelor's of Humanities, major of Fine Arts. Universidad de Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1975
- Exchange Program. Studies in printmaking with Thomas Seawell, SUNY, Oswego, New York, United States
Professional Experience
2021-2022
- Painting teacher for teenagers at Amadeus International School, Vienna, Austria
2010
- Journalist, reporter, video-editor and photographer about art subjects. Cyber cultural magazine "Mayagüez sabe a mangó ". www.mayaguezsabeamango.com
2003-2004
- Production coordinator. Cultura Viva Program, Channel 6 TV, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2000
- University instructor, basic drawing and art appreciation courses. Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1995-1998
- Director and curator. Student Union Visual and Performing Arts Space, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Massachusetts, United States
1995-1998
- Director and curator. Wheeler Gallery, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Massachusetts, United States
1994-1997
- Teaching Assistant of Two-dimensional Design, and Basic Drawing. University of Massachusetts Amherst, Massachusetts, United States
1990-1993
- Drawer of prehistoric and Roman archaeological pieces. History and Archaeology Faculty, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
1986-1990
- Production and Printing Coordinator. Compugráfica, Inc. Design Agency, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Exhibitions
Solo Shows
2025
- EL MAL, una realidad violenta para el lenguaje de un pincel, La Liga de Arte de San Juan, Puerto Rico
2013
- Rasgos, Galería CAI, Universidad Interamericana, Recinto Metro, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2011
- A Contraluz: Variaciones sobre una Silueta, C.A.S.A., Cuernavaca, Mexico
2003
- Rojo Profundo, Museo de las Américas, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2001
- Pinturas, DMR, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1997
- Abnormal Fobia Pigmentation, Herter Gallery, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States
1993
- Pinturas y collages, Galería de La General, Loja, Spain
- Siete Óleos, Centro Cultural del Albaizín, Granada, Spain
1985
- Malerei & Collages, Minoriten Kloster, Graz, Austria
- Pinturas y Collages, Liga de Estudiantes de Arte, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1984
- Malerei & Grafik, Galerie K, Kindberg, Austria
- Malerei, Afro-Asian Institute, Graz, Austria
Group Shows
2024
- Sein und Liebe, International Women Exhibition, Bulgarian Institute of Culture,Haus Wittgenstein, Viena, Austria
- Cortar, Coser, Quebrar, Cuidar, Quemar, Galería Souvenir 154, Casa Aboy, Santurce, Puerto Rico
2023
- Maestras, Galería Masters Puerto Rico, Viejo San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Tschak Boom #4, Ministry of Artists, Viena, Austria
2022
- Across the horizon, Galería El Kilómetro (KM18), Santurce, Puerto Rico
2021
- […] Entreformas, Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico
2019-2020
- Anarquía y dialéctica en el deseo, géneros y marginalidad en Puerto Rico, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2019
- Nexos, artistas puertorriqueñas, invitadas y de la colección, Museo de Arte de Bayamón, Puerto Rico
- Figural bis Abstrakt, Langenzersdorf Museum, Langenzersdorf, Austria
2018
- Contrapunto, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Aufbruch zum Licht, Otto Mauer Zentrum, Viena, Austria
2017
- Eigen Sicht der Dinge, Kunstsalon Schönbrunn, Schloss Schönbrunn, Viena, Austria
- La Batalla después del cuerpo, un proyecto feminista, Museo de Arte de Caguas, Caguas, Puerto Rico
2015
- Manipulaciones o la recodificación del medio, Proyecto Local 270, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2013
- Muestra Nacional de Arte 2013, Antiguo Arsenal de la Puntilla, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2012
- Nuevas adquisiciones, Museo de Arte de Bayamón, Bayamón, Puerto Rico
- Caleidoscopio, Galería 778, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2009
- Mujer Pintora, Cooperativa de Seguros Múltiples de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2007
- Optika2. Exposición sobre narración visual, Galería Chardón, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
2006
- Exposición Premio Artes Plásticas, Ateneo Puertorriqueño, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2005
- Imagen de una cultura, 25 años de la Colección de Cooperativa de Seguros Múltiples de Puerto Rico, Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Certamen Nacional de Artes Plásticas, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Colectiva Inaugural, Galería La Casa del Arte, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Subasta, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- La Casa del Arte: del pasado al presente, La Casa del Arte, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2004
- Nuevas Adquisiciones, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Coalición, Ateneo Puertorriqueño, San Juan; Museo de Historia de Ponce, Ponce, Puerto Rico
- Mujeres con Historia, Uri Art Gallery, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Óleos de Festival, Congreso Iberoamericano de las Artes, Uri Art Gallery, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Pintura abstracta puertorriqueña-Cuatro generaciones, La Casa del Arte, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- El Dibujo, La Casa del Arte, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2002
- Abstractos Recientes, Galería Calle Cristo, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Colectiva Navideña, Galería Calle Cristo, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1997
- Works on Paper, Holyoke Community College, Holyoke, Massachusetts, United States
1996
- Visual Thinking in Motion. Animation Show, Wheeler Gallery, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States
1986
- Mujeres Artistas, Museo de Bellas Artes, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1985
- Salón de la Pintura '85, Antiguo Arsenal de la Marina Española, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1984
- Steirischer Herbst International Art Festival, Malerwochen Meditation ’84, Castillo de Poppendorf y Minoriten Kloster, Poppendorf, Graz, Austria
1981
- Exposición Premio Revista Sin Nombre, Liga de Estudiantes de Arte, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1975
- Exposición Anual de Estudiantes de Arte, SUNY, Oswego, New York, Unites States
Awards, Distinctions and Achievements
2011
- Artist Residency, Grant for foreign artists. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de México and Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, México
- Grant for Artist Residency in Mexico. Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2005
- Award for Best Colective Exhibition. “Coalición” Exhibition, International Association of Art Critics, Puerto Rico Chapter, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2004
- Award for Best Individual Exhibition. "Rojo Profundo" Exhibition, International Association of Art Critics, Puerto Rico Chapter, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1996
- Guest Artist. Amherst Public Art Commission, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States
1994
- National Award for Merit. Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1986
- Grant. Ford Foundation, United States
1985
- Third Prize for Drawing. Mobil Oil Co., San Juan, Puerto Rico
1984
- Finalist. Award for Painting, City of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
1979
- Scholarship for studies abroad. Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Collections
- Cooperativa de Seguros Múltiples de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- La General de Granada, Granada, Spain
- Ministerio de Cultura de Viena, Viena, Austria
- Minoriten Kloster, Graz, Austria
- Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Museo de Arte de Bayamón, Bayamón, Puerto Rico
- Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Bibliography
Catalogues
Ramos Borges, Melissa. “Manipulaciones o la recodificación del medio”, Proyecto Local 270, San Juan, 2015.
Bravo, Laura. “Optika2: construyendo historias con imágenes. Exposición sobre Narración Visual”. Galería Chardón, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Mayagüez, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, 2007.
Moreira, Rubén. “La Casa del Arte: Del pasado al futuro”. La Casa del arte, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 2005.
Pérez Ruíz, José Antonio. “Amanda Carmona Bosch: Pensamiento y Acción”. Rojo Profundo, Museo de las Américas, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 2003.
Newspapers
"Diálogo abstracto en Entreformas" el Vocero de Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico, 2021
"Diálogo abstracto en Entreformas" el Vocero de Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico, 2021
“Abnormal Fobia Pigmentation comes to Herter Gallery”. The Campus Chronicle, University of Massachusetts (Amherst, MA), 31 de octubre de 1997.
Alegre Barrios, Mario. “Amanda y su pasión por el pincel”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), 6 de noviembre de 2003.
Alegre Barrios, Mario. “Galardones a la creación plástica”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), 17 de abril de 2004.
Cabañas, Ana María. “Amanda Carmona, una pintora puertorriqueña en Austria”. El Mundo (San Juan, PR), julio de 1985.
Galán, Eva V. “Óleos de Amanda Carmona: las dimensiones del alma”. El Ideal (Granada, España), marzo de 1993.
López Meléndez, Amable. “Amanda Carmona Bosch, Rojo Profundo: hasta las raíces de la luz”. Areíto (República Dominicana), 10 de enero de 2004.
Pérez Ruíz, Antonio. “Ante un cuarto de siglo de coleccionismo”. El Vocero (San Juan, PR), 30 de abril de 2005.
Rivas, Maite. “Vistazos de color y figuras humanas”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), julio de 1985.
Rodríguez, Jorge. “Plástica al son de la San Sebastián”. EL Vocero (San Juan, PR), 12 de enero de 2004.
Rodríguez, Jorge. “Premios AICA a la excelencia”. El Vocero (San Juan, PR), 19 de abril de 2004.
Rodríguez, Myrna. "Carmona Exhibits at the League”. The San Juan Star (San Juan, PR), agosto de 1985.
Scheuer, Grete. “Malerwochen auch in der Oststeier”. Sud-Ost Tages Post (Graz, Austria), noviembre de 1984.
T.S. “Visionen von Angst und Shrecken”. Sud-Ost Tages Post (Graz, Austria), mayo de 1984.
Wells, Bonnie. "Meeting the visiting art’…ists”. Amherst Bulletin (Amherst, MA), 3 de mayo de 1996.
Web
Rodríguez Valles, Nora. “De viaje por rasgos”. Visión Doble (Revista Online), 15 de Noviembre de 2013. www.visiondoble.net
Torres Arzola, Raquel. “Viva la resistencia: Women artists in Puerto Rico and outside”, August 9, 2015. https://arteypensamientocontemporaneo.wordpress.com/2015/08/09/viva-la-resistencia-women-artists-in-puerto-rico-and-outside/