Pedro "Spear" Torres
San Juan, PR, 1977
Biography Details
Graffiti artist, painter and muralist. In 2000 he obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design from Atlantic College in Carolina, Puerto Rico. He has worked as an art director in local and international advertising agencies such as De la Cruz, BBDO and JWT. In graffiti, he is part of one of the pioneering collectives at the local level, El Corográfico, with whom he continues to collaborate today. Together with this group, he won the first prize in the “crew” category of Graphopoli, the first urban art biennial of the Puerto Rico Museum of Art. In 2017 he received the first place for best can design in the Mountain Dew competition. He has exhibited his work and murals both collectively and individually in Puerto Rico, the United States, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Brazil and Tokyo. Through his works he seeks to communicate metaphysical and social ideas, using muralism and graffiti as healthy and accessible communication strategies for the public.
Artist Statement
"Graffiti, digital graphics and muralism define my career. My work tends to combine themes and symbolisms related to two of my great interests: the social and the metaphysical or spiritual.
I began my exploration of art through graffiti, even though I did not know that I would dedicate myself to this permanently. In graphics, I work with the language of symbols in compositions that prioritize harmony. It has served as a tool for the communication of metaphysical and social ideas, as well as giving me the advantage that technology provides to manage creativity exponentially. Muralism, for its part, is the communication platform on a large scale and scope.
My paradoxical relationship with advertising and the traditional use of graphics has led me to work on concepts and projects that I would call counter-advertising, where I seek to use its strategies to carry out humanist propaganda instead of creating needs, selling or promoting consumerism and other unhealthy behaviors for the collective.
The symbol that represents my personal and artistic philosophy is the snake. This one, with its two geometric heads, red and blue to represent wisdom and duality, has become the logo of the “Spear Torres” brand."
Pedro “Spear” Torres, 2020
Formation
Education
1998-2000
- Bachelor’s degree in graphic design degree. Atlantic College, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
1996-1998
- General studies and Graphic design. Quinsigamond C. College, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
Professional Experience
2014
- Art Director. JWT, Madrid, Spain
2010-2013
- Art Director and Ilustrator. BBDO, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
2006-2007
- Art Director. De la Cruz, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
2007
- Art Director Noctámbulo Magazine. Mannon Group, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2001-2006
- Art direction for brand design and signage. Maintenance and operation of large and medium format digital and thermal printers. Power Signs, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1997-1998
- General studies teacher assistant. Worcester Public schools, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
1996-1997
- Art teacher assistant. Worcester Art Museum, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
Exhibitions
Individual
2015
- Los Mostros: Criptozoología, antropomorfa y extrañas criaturas puertorriqueñas, Mondo Bizarro, Comic Con, San juan, Puerto Rico
Murals (solo)
2020
- El 21, Alltrista Corporation, Carolina, Puerto Rico
- Mónica Puig, Alltrista Corporation, Carolina, Puerto Rico
2019
- El Ánima, Festival Grito de Consciencia, Bayamón, Puerto Rico
- Snakes in the Grass, Pedestrian walk mural, Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico
- El Tótem de Guánica, Guánica Color y Vida, Guánica, Puerto Rico
- Miradas del Barrio, Collaboration with Sen2 Figueroa, Residential multi mural project, Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico
2018
- El Guardián, Water pump intervention, Ocean Park beach, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- La Marchanta, Mural for Villa Francisca mural festival, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
- La Isla, POW! WOW!, Pall Leahy Center, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
- Multi dimensión, Port Authority, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2017
- Puerto Rico se Arrastra, Montehiedra, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- El que no se arrastra vuela, Avenida Piñero, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2016
- Dualidad Borincana, Santurce es Ley 6, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Aquí se hace cine puertorriqueño, Ruta del Arte, Petrus Gallery, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Araguaco, Departamento de Turismo, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Extra Muros, (mural for children rights, collective with De Aquí pa Ya) Puerta de Tierra, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Dark Matters, Art Lab 753, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2015
- Ayuntamiento de Comendador, Elías Piña, Dominican Republic
- Mejunje Restaurant, Covadonga parking, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Todos Somos Peatones, Mapfre, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2014
- Fishman, Artlab753, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Color Conspiracy, Color Conspiracy tattoo shop, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Santurce es Ley 5, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Murales Hospital del Niño, (collective with Kiehl’s) Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
- La Ensenada, (for Arecibo Street Art project/500 years of Arecibo) Arecibo, Puerto Rico
2013
- Mural collaborated with Don Rimx, Art Basel, Wynwood Walls, Miami, Florida
- Wynwood Miami, Florida, United States
2012
- Wynwood Miami, Florida, United States
2009
- Commemorative mural to Modesto Cepeda, Playita Villa Palmeras, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Mural for Architecture Auditorium, (collective with Piova, Does, Dro Dav & Smoke), Architecture Auditorium, Universidad Politécnica de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2006
- Homenaje a Ray Barretto, (collective with con Exor, Does, Dewx and Esco), Avenida Iturregui, Carolina, Puerto Rico
2001
- Graffiti Kingdom, (collective with SSR crew), Expreso de Trujillo, Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico
Murals with el Corográfico
2018
- Graffiti Icon’s, Santurce es Ley 7, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2017
- Cartas para Cuba, La Habana, Cuba
2016
- El Bautismo de Salcedo, Curitiba, Brasil
2014
- Doña Fela parking, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- 9th Fair of Urban Culture, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2013
- Santurce es Ley 4, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Fiestas de la calle Loíza, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Los Muros Hablan, Caribbean Cinemas, Santurce, Puerto Rico
2012
- Santurce es Ley 3, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Hecho con sabor a Puerto Rico, (collaboration with Gerardo Cloquell), Banco Popular, Puerto Rico
2010
- Santurce es Ley 1, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2009
- Los Salseros, Puerta de Tierra, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2001
- Urban Culture Fair 01, San Patricio Plaza, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
Group Shows
2019
- MECA Illustration Art Show, Mercado Caribeño, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- The Common Space, Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Art Truck Expo 2, El Lobi, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Grito de Conciencia, El Nido, Bayamón, Puerto Rico
- Yaucromatic, Yauco, Puerto Rico
2018
- Pow! Wow! Worcester, Worcester, Massachusets, United States
- La Marchanta, Villa Francisca, Dominican Republic
- TV Addicts, El Local, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2017
- Carteles de Santurce, Espacio Minerva, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Art Basel Miami, Miami, Florida, United States
2016
- Street of Styles, Curitiba, Brazil
- Blanco y Negro, Art Lab 753, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2015
- Arecibo Street Art Project, Arecibo, Puerto Rico
- Feria de Cultura Urbana, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- De Aquí, Pa’ Ya, Elías Piña, Dominican Republic
- Micro empresarismo Urbano, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2014
- Ay Caramba: A Simpsons Tribute, Mondo Bizarro, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Un coro navideño, Petrus Gallery, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Corografía, Exit Room, New York, United States
2012
- La Juntilla, Local 1B, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2009
- Normal, Petrus Gallery, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- En La Tuya, Fine Arts Department, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2006
- Movimiento, Cubo 1504 gallery, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- 9 Sobre Blanco, Carlos Irizarry gallery, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Taxi Galería, Yellow Media Group, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2005
- D Cora, Cubo 1504 gallery, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Corollo, Corollo, Cubo 1504 gallery, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Awards, Distinctions and Achievements
2017
- First place for can design. Montain Dew, Puerto Rico
2008
- First prize in the crew category. Biennial Graphopoli, Puerto Rico
Bibliography
Newspapers
“Con palmadas de esperanza”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), 1 de marzo de 2009.
“En honor a Barreto”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, Puerto Rico), 22 de febrero de 2006, p. 77.
“Espacios llenos de arte”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, Puerto Rico), 29 de diciembre de 2014, 17 de diciembre de 2019, p. 50.
“Los Grafiteros del SSR”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, Puerto Rico), Domingo 6 de mayo 2001, p. 78.
“Vena creativa en La Perla”. El Vocero (San Juan, Puerto Rico), 7 noviembre de 2011, p. 12.
"Zafacones maquillados”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, Puerto Rico), 26 de agosto 2011, pp. 68-69.
Web
“Arte público invade el MAPR”. El Vocero, 4 de octubre de 2019. https://www.elvocero.com/escenario/arte-p-blico-invade-el-mapr/article_c...
“El graffiti del vandalismo al arte”. Telenoticias, 6 de marzo del 2015. https://www.telemundopr.com/noticias/local/el-graffiti-del-vandalismo-al...
“Entrevista sobre trayectoria Spear Torres.” Programa Radio Proyecto MAPR, WIPR 940am, 5 de febrero de 2020. Disponible en: https://es-es.facebook.com/wipr940/videos/radio-proyecto-mapr-del-museo-...
“Es algo Nolmal”. Primera Hora, 14 de enero de 2009. https://www.primerahora.com/entretenimiento/cultura-teatro/notas/es-algo...
Mora, Némesis. “Una tarde junto a los grafiteros EL CORO”. Dialogo UPR, 12 de febrero de 2014. https://dialogo.upr.edu/un-tarde-junto-a-los-grafiteros-del-coro/
Pujols, Daniela. “El arte urbano embellece las calles de Villa Francisca y la avenida Duarte”. Diario Libre, 2 de julio de 2018. https://www.diariolibre.com/revista/cultura/el-arte-urbano-embellece-las...
“Una nueva exhibición en el MAPR analiza la ciudad”. El Nuevo Día, 4 de octubre de 2019. https://www.elnuevodia.com/entretenimiento/cultura/notas/una-nueva-exhib...