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Artist Statement:
Surrounded by the artwork of
his father and the esthetic
standards of an interior
decorator mother, Francisco De
La Torre IV entered peacefully
into a design forward
household on 1968 in San Juan,
Puerto Rico.
"There was art in every wall
and sculptures in all the open
spaces as far back as i can
remember. I stared at the work
so much that can still recall
specific pieces by my father
and his circle of artist
friends."
A circle of artist friends
that happened to be some of
the leading cuban artists that
had exiled to Puerto Rico.
Renown painters such as
Rolando Lopez Dirube, Diaz de
Villega, Gantes and Cubiñá,
who would meet at his fathers
house almost weekly to sketch
each other and share a bottle
of wine.
His first formal art training
came at the age of 12 at
Dirube's studio in Humacao,
Puerto Rico. Where for years
Francisco would sketch and
paint with one of the leading
latin american abstract
expressionists of the modern
era.
"My father and Dirube have to
be some of my biggest
influences. Both abstract
painters that communicate
their intellect and passion in
a visually powerful way".
At the age of ...
Further Information
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Artist Exhibitions:
De La Torre recent works
Galeria Kroma, San Juan PR
2006
PRAWI show, San Juan PR 2006
The First Show
Butter Gallery, Miami 2007
Twice the Butter
Butter Gallery, Miami 2008
Loaded Deck
Alt Space, Miami 2008
The Magic City
Buck 15, Miami 2008...
Further Information
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Artist Galleries:
Coming Soon!
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Artist Reviews:
Coming Soon!
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Collections:
Coming Soon!
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Commissions:
Coming Soon!
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Francisco De La Torre Biography:
| Biographical information for Francisco De La Torre can be found below. The artist may choose what information to display. Sometimes the artist chooses not to display personal information to the general public. |
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Age
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40
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| Gender |
Male
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| Status |
Single
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| Children |
99
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| Religion |
not provided |
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| Education |
Bachelor of Fine Arts |
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| Hobbies / Interests |
Horticulture. Vintage automobiles. |
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| Favorite Artistic Medium |
Mixed Media
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| Favorite Arthistory Movement |
Abstract Expressionism - (1940 - 1955)
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| Favorite Visual Artist |
Phil Stapleton
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| Favorite Work of Art |
not provided
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| Biggest Artistic Inspiration |
De La Torre III (father), Rolando Lopez Dirube, Alfredo Cubiña, Rick Falcon, Ross Ford. |
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| Why Did You Become An Artist |
not provided |
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| Your Personal Biography |
Surrounded by the artwork of his father and the esthetic standards of an interior decorator mother, Francisco De La Torre IV entered peacefully into a design forward household on 1968 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
'There was art in every wall and sculptures in all the open spaces as far back as i can remember. I stared at the work so much that can still recall specific pieces by my father and his circle of artist friends.'
A circle of artist friends that happened to be some of the leading cuban artists that had exiled to Puerto Rico. Renown painters such as Rolando Lopez Dirube, Diaz de Villega, Gantes and Cubiñá, who would meet at his fathers house almost weekly to sketch each other and share a bottle of wine.
His first formal art training came at the age of 12 at Dirube's studio in Humacao, Puerto Rico. Where for years Francisco would sketch and paint with one of the leading latin american abstract expressionists of the modern era.
'My father and Dirube have to be some of my biggest influences. Both abstract painters that communicate their intellect and passion in a visually powerful way'.
At the age of 17, Francisco De La Torre IV graduated High School from Colegio Marista in Guaynabo Puerto Rico and decided to pursue a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Graphic Design and Marketing from the University of Miami. There he will completely inmerse himself in the world of art and follow the artistic direction of teachers Peter Zorn, Tom Gormley of the TypeShop in NYC and photographer Maria Martinez Cañas.
'Tom and Peter were very clear in their teachings about graphic design. They emphazised the importance of a foundation based on concept and visual impact when most people in the early 1990's were focusing on the technological aspects of design brought by the desktop computer revolution'.
The year he graduated from the University of Miami, Francisco convinced the owner of a building in Commodore Plaza in Coconut Grove to allow him to curate an exhibit in one of their empty retail spaces where he created an exhibition space tittled 'Underexposed'. Oddly enough fifteen years later he would open the Butter Gallery directly across the street from that location.
'It was rewarding to show the work of my fellow schoolmates and be associated with the promotional and curatorial aspects of an art gallery. But quickly realized that i was too young to be both an art dealer and an artist.'
After the temporary exhibitions De La Torre decided to begin his graphic design career as a freelance artist in Miami under the name Dela Design Studios at the age of 22. Soon his portfolio of clients included The Doral Ryder Open, The Don Shula Foundation, Club One, Freshjive, Pervert Clothing, Enthropy Surf, BC Ethics, Sony Music and many others.
'One of my first freelance clients was Don Shula, coach of the Miami Dolphins. It opened a lot of doors for me and i will always be grateful for the oportunity'.
In 1994 while still living in Miami, Francisco founded Tiempos Magazine in his native Puerto Rico. With a natural talent for design the young art director and publisher soon found himself rivaling the big publications and leading the 'indie' publishing revolution of the island. At the fast pace of the magazine eight years quickly passed and Francisco had by then published more than two million copies of Tiempos and featured (in many cases exclusively) names such as Ruben Blades, Benicio Del Toro (first interview in PR), Eddie Van Halen, Shakira, P Diddy, Ziggy Marley, Marc Anthony and many others.
'When the biggest names in fashion, entertainment and action sports industries were asking us to be in our magazine and established publishers were unsucessfully trying to immitate my design and editorial content, i realized this was special and very real'.
Fascinated with the art and style of action sports he begins another publishing project under the name Butter, creating both the first magazine dedicated to the sport of wakeskating. He also decides to expand the spectrum of his design and creates Butter the clothing line; which he still continues to produce for a selected number of clients including Robi 'Draco' Rosa.
Always considering himself a painter before anything else he continues to succesfully exhibit his fine arts work in Miami and Puerto Rico before he decides to leave the world of publishing behind him and sells Tiempos Magazine. After a few years of exhibiting internationally all roads take him back to the place where it all began and in 2006 opens the Butter Gallery in Coconut Grove.
'Everything has come around full circle and my fine arts career makes more sense than ever. The desire to create ground breaking work combined with my years of experience in the visual arts, make for a very exciting time in my life'. |
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