Pablo Rubio
San Juan, PR, 1944
Biography Details
Sculptor, painter, draftsman, designer, curator and professor. Obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts at the Puerto Rico School of Plastic Arts and a Master’s Degree at the State University of New York (SUNY) in Buffalo. He now teaches at the University of Puerto Rico. In 1985, he was invited to the First International Sculpture Symposium in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and has attended others since then. His public sculpture is widely known and has created over twenty monuments all over the Island, as well as others in the United States, Korea, Venezuela and Ecuador. He has participated in several programs and organizations, like the Puerto Rico Sculptors Association and the Tropical Garden of International Sculpture. In 1984, his work broke the mold with his work Guerrero celeste (“Sky Warrior”, winner of the Fomento Prize), which is a traditional bronze casting portraying contemporary forms. He has continued to revolutionize the medium with his use of stainless steel to explore, among other topics, the conceptual connections between the Taíno symbols and the extrasensory world.
Artist Statement
Rubio and his work: “Mistakes do not beat me”
“I have always persisted at what drives my curiosity, time, space and light. Is the sincerity of a new language and its evolution, maybe its revolution. Of open windows that penetrate the mystery of a vision, of mixing elements of life and turn them into whole – Me: My Work – natural moment of evolution that has and I want it to have the force of a hurricane and the poetry of my countryside.
I please no one; there is my life, my passion and the sincerity without limits in it. The gods do not have to please anyone; I am not a God, even though “Mistakes do not beat me”. I am me, and my work is that which is seen; is a continuous challenge, many sheets of paper have been torn, the carbon of my pencil full of legend roared. I believe in symbols of life, courage and people.
My work is the result of moments, moments I search for in the minimalism of a complex today. Everything is a correlation, is a past – future – light – shadow – time – space – thought - memory – life – death and reincarnation.
The important thing about my work is that: as a man of this planet, as an artist, as a Puerto Rican, is to bring a message of harmony among nations, is to demonstrate that greatness is not defined by the size of a nation but by the imagination and character of its people… and in my work, I Am (exist).”
Pablo Rubio
Formation
Education
1983
- Master’s Degree of Arts. State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, United States
1966-1980
- Bachelor’s Degree of Fine Arts, major in Sculpture. Escuela Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1964-1966
- Architectural Drawing. Instituto Comercial de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1966
- Oxyacetylene Workshop. Borden Chemical Corp., Ohio, United States
1966
- Electronics Workshop. Hiphill School, Alabama, United States
1956
- Painting Workshop. Atelier of Jorge Rechany, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1952-1956
- Drawing and Painting Workshop. Atelier of María Teresa Lomba, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Professional Experience
1969- present
- Sculptor. 65 public works and commissions, Puerto Rico
1986- present
- Professor. Universidad de Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1983-2013
- Juror for selection, award granting and evaluator for cultural institutions. Ateneo Puertorriqueño, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Museums, Biennials, Universities in Puerto Rico, Brazil and Dominican Republic
1976-2013
- Designer of art curriculums and workshops. Universidad de Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Liceo de Arte y Tecnología, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2008,1995,1992
- Developer and Co-Director. International Sculpture Symposium, Universidad de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1995, 1992
- Promoter and Director. I y II Simposio Escultura Internacional, Universidad de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1994
- Curator. Puerto Rican Delegation, XXII Biennial of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
1993
- Comissioner. Muestra de Escultura Contemporánea, Museo de Arte e Historia, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1992
- Organizing Member. Commission on behalf of the Garden of Sculptures, Botanical Garden, Universidad de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Creator of the First Tropical Sculpture Garden in the World. San Juan, Puerto Rico
1990
- Member Exhibitions and Acquisitions Committee, Fine Arts Division, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1989
- Producer and Director. “Encuentro con el Crítico de Arte Internacional: Gerard Xuriguera”, Taller Universidad abre sus puertas, Universidad del Turabo, Gurabo, Puerto Rico
- Producer and Director. Production of four videos for the video library of the Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1984
- Member. Congreso de Artistas Abstractos, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1983
- President and Co-Founder. Asociación de Escultores de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Member. 1984 Selection Committee, Casa Blanca Exhibition Hall, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1982
- President. The Very Special Arts Festival in Puerto Rico, National Committee: Arts for the Handicapped, affiliated to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, New York, United States
1977
- Juror. First Art Workshop for the Handicapped , Sociedad de Niños y Adultos Lisiados de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1976 - 1983
- Artistic Adviser and Voluntary Professor of Art. Sociedad de Niños Adultos Lisiados Capítulo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1970-1972
- Entrepreneur. Stablished Construction Company for the Design of Terraces and Façades, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1967
- Set Designer. “Juan Bobo y las Fiestas” scenography, Teatro Tapia, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Member. Grupo A de Arquitectura, Klumb Foundation, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Exhibitions
Solo Shows
2005
- Raíces: La Ceiba, Monumento al Empresario, Centro Unido de Detallistas, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2000
- Cinta del Tiempo, Plaza del Mar, Cataño, Puerto Rico
1998
- Raíces II, Paseo Mirador, Isla Verde, Carolina, Puerto Rico
- Estrella del Tiempo, Paseo Mirador, Cataño, Puerto Rico
- Flamboyán de los Caribeños, Parque Metropolitano, Quito, Ecuador
- Mundos Paralelos, Jardín de Esculturas, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo, Cumaná, Venezuela
1992
- Paso del Viento, Parque Lineal Martí Flores Coll, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1985
- Cristo de Santa María de los Ángeles, Iglesia de Santa María de los Ángeles, Carolina, Puerto Rico
- Honor al Tiempo, Jardines de Bacardí Corp., Cataño, Puerto Rico
1967
- Esculturas: Rubio, Ateneo Puertorriqueño, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Group Shows
1998
- Exposición Internacional de Esculturas, Parque Metropolitano, Quito, Ecuador
1994
- Simposio Internacional de Esculturas, Coucher de Soleil, Lamentin, Guadeloupe
1992
- Museo Sin Paredes, Jardín Escultórico de la Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- 500 Años de Arte en Puerto Rico, Museo de Las Américas, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1991
- Deux Îles des Caraïbes, Galerie Samagra, Paris, France
- 1492-1992 Un Nouveau Regard Sur Les Caraïbes, L’Espace Carpeaux, Courbevoie, France
- Segunda Exhibición de Escultura Efímera, Fortaleza, Brazil
1989
- XX Bienal de Brasil, São Paulo, Brazil
- Pinturas y Esculturas de los Años 70 en Puerto Rico, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Proyecto de Arte, Plazas de San Juan, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Sculpture of the Americas Into the Nineties, Art Museum of the Americas, Organization of American States, Washington DC, United States
1988
- Encuentro en Tiempo y Espacio, International Sculpture Park, Seoul, Korea
- Dibujos sobre Papel, Gana Gallery, Seoul, Korea
- Energía…Encuentro en Tiempo y Espacio, Chase Manhattan Bank, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1987
- Holocausto Nuclear, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1986
- IX Bienal del Deporte en las Bellas Artes, Barcelona, Spain
- Primera Exhibición de Escultura Efímera, Fortaleza, Brazil
- Artistas Abstractos de Puerto Rico en Santo Domingo, Museo de Arte Moderno, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
1985
- Primer Simposio Internacional de Escultura, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
- Páginas al Tiempo, Galería de Arte Moderno, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
1984
- La Familia, Hotel La Concha, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1983
- XVII Bienal Internacional, Serie Plasmas y Reflejos, São Paulo, Brazil
- Primera Exposición Histórico Nacional de Escultores de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1980
- Abstracción, Executive Building, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1974
- Rubio: Esculturas, Museo de Arte de Ponce, Ponce, Puerto Rico
1968
- Serie de Guerreros, Galería de Santiago, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Las gaviotas, Tiendas Velasco, Plaza Las Américas, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1967
- Atacando al Invasor y el Martinete, Museo de Arte de Ponce, Ponce, Puerto Rico
1961
- Primera exposición colectiva de pintura, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Awards, Distinctions and Achievements
2013
- Commission. Public work “HOVIXX”, Plaza de la PR 837, Municipality of Guaynabo, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
2008
- Commission. Public work “Flor de Guaynabo”, Plaza de los Artistas, Municipality of Guaynabo, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
2005-2006
- Sabbatical. Universidad de Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2004
- Academic discharge for coordination and oversight. International Sculpture Symposium, Universidad de Puerto Rico Centennial Celebration, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Certificate of appreciation for transcendence and vision. Recta Ratio Sculpture, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Ponce Campus, Ponce, Puerto Rico
2003
- Commission. Urban Sculpture “La Rosa del Sur”, Doral Bank, Ponce, Puerto Rico
- Winner. Caparra Hills Competition, “Universo del Hombre”, San Patricio Towers, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
- Winner. Monumental Urban Sculpture Competition for Park PR5, “Estrella del Norte”, Bayamón, Puerto Rico
- Commission. “Símbolos de Justicia” Sculpture, Tribunal de Apelaciones, Hato Rey, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2001
- Special Recognition: for the developing of new iron sculptors. II Bienal de Esculturas en la industria del Acero en Puerto Rico, Vega Baja, Puerto Rico
1998
- First Class National Cultural Merit. Ministerio de Educación y Cultura, Quito, Ecuador
- Illustrious Visitor. Alcaldía de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
- Public Monunent Prize. Escultura “Raíces II”, International Association of Art Critics, Puerto Rico Chapter, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1997
- Nomination. 1998 Kyoto Prize in Creative and Moral Sciences, Kyoto, Japan
- Invitation. I Simposio Internacional de Esculturas Monumentales: Arte para Todos, Parque Metropolitano, Quito, Ecuador
1996
- Honor. First Puerto Rican to recieve distinction for doing the official logo, seal and emblem with his work “Coucher de Soleil en Guadeloupe”, Lamentin, Guadeloupe
1995
- Winner. “Raíces” artwork, Certamen Centro Unido de Detallistas, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Commision. “Raíces II” artwork, Paseo Mirador, Carolina, Puerto Rico
1994
- Invitation. International Symposium of “Karuptures” Sculptures, Lamentin, Guadeloupe
- Commissioner of the Puerto Rican representation. XXII Bienal de São Paulo, Brazil
- Certificate of Participation and Citius-Altius-Fortius Medal. Primera Muestra de Arte del Comité Olímpico Internacional: Centenario 1894-1994 ( First International Olympic Committee Art Exhibit: 1894-1994 Centennial) , San Juan, Puerto Rico
1993
- Winner. Carvajal Foundation’s Sculpture Competition “Raíces” for Guaynabo’s Fine Arts Center, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Commissioner. Contemporary Sculpture in Puerto Rico Exhibit, International Association of Art Critics Congress, Museo de Arte e Historia de San Juan, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1992
- Commission. Monumental Sculpture “Paso del Viento”, first mobile installed in the water, Parque Lineal Martí Flores Coll, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Award. Monumento 92, International Association of Art Critics, Puerto Rico Chapter, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1991
- Winner. “La Niña, la Pinta y Santa María” art work, first mobile monument on the Island, Plaza del Tercer Milenio, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Premio. Certamen “Monumento a la Raza”, Plaza Encuentro de Dos Mundos, Río Grande, Puerto Rico
- Award. “Monumento a la Raza” Competition, Plaza Encuentro de Dos Mundos, Río Grande, Puerto Rico
- Winner. Certamen Expo Internacional Sevilla, España with the work “Cristales de la Paz”, Sevilla, España
- Award. Escultura 91 y Premio Divulgación del Arte Puertorriqueño en el Exterior, International Association of Art Critics, Puerto Rico Chapter, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Award. Sol sobre el Yunque, for his international career, Club Cívico de Damas, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1990
- Selecction. “Vejigante” art work, to be part of the Sculpture Garden Las Américas, Art Museum of the Americas, Organization of American States, Washington, DC, United States
- Selection. Comisión Asesora de la División de Artes Plásticas, Comité de Exposiciones y Adquisiciones del Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1988
- Selection. Paticipation in the Art Olympiads from the XXIV Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea
1986
- Award. Caguas Federal Competition, for his work “Páginas al Tiempo: Monumento a Lola Rodríguez Tió”, Edificio Palmolive, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
- Acquisition Prize. IX Biennial of Sports in the Fine Arts, Barcelona, Spain
- Award-winning Work. “Juego de Hipérbolas”, acquired for the Olympic Museum of Lausanne, Switzerland
1985
- Guest. I Simposio Internacional de Esculturas, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
1984
- Award. “Fomento Industrial” Competition, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1982
- Premio. Medalla de Bronce en Escultura, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Award. Bronze Medal in Sculpture, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Co-Founder. Consejo Estadual Pro-Arte para el Impedido, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1979
- Recognition for his contribution. Easter Seals , Puerto Rico Chapter, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1972
- Honorable Mention. Esculturas Funcionales, Velasco, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1970
- Second Prize. Asociación de Comerciantes del Viejo San Juan, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Honorable Mention. Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1966
- Scholarship. Studies at the Taller Gráfico of Don Lorenzo Homar, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Collections
- Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Art Museum of the Americas, Organization of American States, Washington DC, United States
- Museo de Arte de Ponce, Ponce, Puerto Rico
- Museo Olímpico, Olympic Museum, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Museo de Arte Contemporáneo, Cumaná, Venezuela
- Parque Olímpico del Museo Nacional de Seúl, Olympic Park of the National Museum, Seoul, Korea
- Museo Comité Olímpico de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Bacardí Corp., Cataño, Puerto Rico
- Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Compañía de Parques Nacionales de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Parques Nacionales de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
- Compañía de Turismo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- First National City Bank, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- The Chase Manhattan Bank, New York, United States
- Municipio de Bayamón, Bayamón, Puerto Rico
- Municipio de Carolina, Carolina, Puerto Rico
- Municipio de Cataño, Cataño, Puerto Rico
- Municipio de Guaynabo, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
- Municipio de Lamentin, Lamentin, Guadeloupe
Bibliography
Catalogues
Pérez Ruiz, José A. "Maestros del Abstraccionismo", Catálogo, Biaggi-Faure Fine Art, San Juan, Puerto Rico, junio de 2006
Moreira, Rubén A. "Dimensiones del Espíritu", Catálogo, Casa Roig, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Huma-cao, abril de 2004
Pereira, María de los A. "Artistas Antillanos en la Urdimbre Temporal del Caribe Ponencia", IV Seminario Nacional de Teoría e Historia del Arte, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia, octubre 2002
Delgado Figueroa, Elaine. "Correlaciones", Catálogo, Programa de Exposiciones, BBVA Banco, San Juan, Puerto Rico, abril 2002
Álvarez Lezama, Manuel. "El artista y el viaje", Catálogo Exposición. Dos Tiempos, Biaggi-Faure: Fine Arts, San Juan, Puerto Rico, diciembre 2001
Rodríguez, Miguel E. Piedra, "Metal y Madera: La Escultura en Puerto Rico", Catálogo, Museo de Arte de Ponce, Puerto Rico, 25 de febrero de 2001
García Gutiérrez, Enrique. "Puerto Rico en París: Comentario explicativo de la Muestra", Catálogo: Puer-to Rico en París / 2000/ Puerto Rico a Paris, pp. 61, 96, 97, Asociación de Artistas Plásticos Puertorrique-ños, Fundación Ferré Rangel, Puerto Rico, 20 septiembre de 2000
Xuriguera, Gerard. Rubio, "Catálogo: Rubio: Formas: de mi Universo", Petrus Galeros, San Juan, Puerto Rico, marzo 2000
Rubio, Pablo. "Formas de Mi Universo", Catálogo: Rubio: Formas de Mi Universo, Petrus Galeros, San Juan, Puerto Rico, marzo 2000
Xuriguera, Gerard. "Simposio Internacional de Escultura Monumental: Arte Para Todos", Municipio del Distrito Metropolitano de Quito, Ecuador, 1998
Xuriguera, Gerard. "L’Art dans la Cité", catálogo, Marie du Lamentin, Guadeloupe, septiembre, 1997
Rubio, Pablo. "Delegación Puertorriqueña", Catálogo Internacional: 22 Bienal Internacional de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brasil, pp. 346 – 347, 1994
Rubio, Pablo. "Arte Tridimensional Hoy", catálogo, Museo de Arte e Historia de San Juan, Puerto Rico, septiembre, 1993
Books
Benítez, Marimar. "La Escultura Moderna de Puerto Rico", libro: "Puerto Rico Arte e Identidad", San Juan, Puerto Rico:Hermandad de Artistas Gráficos de Puerto Rico, Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, 1998, pp. 272-274
Magazines
Redacción. "Escultura de Rubio en nuevo Edificio Santander Tower", San Patricio, ArtPremium: La Revis-ta de Arte de Puerto Rico, (San Juan, PR), Vol. 1 num.3, julio – agosto 2004, p.8, .
Laosa, Marilú de. "Simposio Internacional de Escultura: Puerto Rico 2004", ArtPremium: La Revista de Arte de Puerto Rico, (San Juan, PR), Vol. 1 Num. 2, abril - mayo 2004, pp. 46.
Producción. "Ilustración en portada y página 36" de la Revista ArtPremium: La Revista de Arte de Puer-to Rico,(San Juan, PR), Vol. 1Num.1 febrero-marzo 2004
Delgado Figueroa, Elaine. "Los Colosos de Pablo Rubio", Arte Latinoamericano [Revista], Puerto Rico, (San Juan, PR), enero – junio 2003, núm. 5,pp. 18,
Paniagua, Tere. "Metalada", revista, Arte Latinoamericano, (San Juan, PR), # 3, enero – junio 2002, pp. 60-61
González, Lissette. "Artistas de Alcance Mundial", revista, Caras de Puerto Rico, (San Juan, PR), año 12 Num. 11, nov. 2001, pp. 50, 210,211
Xuriguera, Gerard. "Pablo Rubio", revista, Chateaux, (Paris, Francia), Pág. 40, Num. 90, mayo, 1996
Bertrand, Valere. "Karuptures 94: A Symposium on Monumental Sculpture in Lamentin (Guadeloupe), Cimaise: Present Days Art – Arts Actuels", (París, Francia), 41 anne Num.230, Juin – Juillet – Aout 1994
Abraham, Martine. "Un Nouvelle Image Pour le Lamentin”, revista, Caribbean Week, Lamentin, Guade-loupe, marzo, 1995 p. 8,
Álvarez Lezama, Manuel. "Nuestros Nuevos Vecinos: Crítica de las recientes esculturas públicas", revista, Plástica, año XV, Num, 21, septiembre 1993, pp. 114-115,
Pérez Ruiz, José A. "Pablo Rubio", revista Art Nexus: Edición Internacional de Arte en Colombia, Año IX, Num. 55, junio – agosto, 1993pp. 148-149.