Antonio Martorell | |
|---|---|
_(ZZZd).jpg) Antonio Martorell in Ponce, Puerto Rico (January 2015) | |
| Born | Antonio Martorell Cardona (1939-04-18)18 April 1939 (age 86) |
| Education | Madrid,Spain |
| Known for | Painting, writer, educator, broadcaster |
| Notable work | Painter: ‘Escarabajo’ [Beetle][1] ‘Espejuelos’ [Eyeglasses][1] Writer: La Piel de la Memoria El Libro Dibujado |
| Awards | Bienal de Arte de San Juan,National Medal of Arts |
| Patrons | Museo de Arte de Ponce Puerto Rico Museum of Contemporary Art Puerto Rico Museum of Art |
| Website | http://www.antoniomartorell.com |
Antonio ("Toño") Martorell Cardona (born 18 April 1939) is aPuerto Rican painter, graphic artist and writer. He regularly exhibits in Puerto Rico and the United States and participates in arts events around the world. He spends his time between his workshops inPonce,Hato Rey, andNew York City, his presentations worldwide and his academic work inCayey, Puerto Rico.
Martorell Cardona was born on 18 April 1939, inSanturce, Puerto Rico. He is the son of Antonio Martorell II and Luisa Cardona. His father left the family when Martorell was ten years old.[2] He is the first of three children. He first started showing interest in arts as a small child with drawings.
He studied diplomacy atGeorgetown University inWashington, D.C.,[3] and then in 1961 went to studypainting with Julio Martín Caro inMadrid.[2][4] In the 1960s, he worked in Ponce, collaborating withSor Isolina Ferre in the creation of community art workshops.[4] He also worked at the workshop ofLorenzo Homar at theInstituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña between 1962 and 1965.[2] He currently is the Resident Artist of theUniversity of Puerto Rico at Cayey.[5]
Martorell's incursion into the arts came by the way of theater on 25 April 2001. He participated in the scenography of "Celebración Verdiana " for the opera byPlácido Domingo.[6]
Martorell currently has a workshop inNew York City[7] and another one on Calle Salmon (old Calle Comercio) in barrioPlaya,Ponce, at a building that dates to 1815[8] and which he has occupied since 2007.[9] Of his breezy workshop at Playa de Ponce and his spiritual connection there he has said "more than Ponceño, I am a Playero...My north now is the South and its wide horizons."[9]
Martorell was the winner of the Bienal de Arte de San Juan, and has illustrated books of several authors including Alma Rosa Flor,Heraclio Cepeda,Nicholasa Mohr, andPura Belpré. He also illustrated theABC de Puerto Rico published by Troutman Press.
In the 1980s, Martorell dedicated himself to writing, producing various books.[4] As a writer, Martorell has written books such asLa piel de la memoria (translated asMemory's Tattoo byAndrew Hurley), andEl libro dibujado (The Drawn Book). He currently writes a column forEscenario, a section of Puerto Rican newspaperEl Vocero.
On 21 March 2023, Martorell was awarded theNational Medal of Arts by the president of the United States,Joe Biden.[10]
In December 2006, Martorell's workshop inCayey, Puerto Rico, was subjected to arson with the loss of many works of art.[11]
The most extensive publication on Martorell's work is Antonio Díaz-Royo's biographyMartorell: la aventura de la creación (The Adventure of Creation).[12] His paintings are found at theInstituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, Museo de la Universidad de Puerto Rico,Museo de Arte de Ponce,Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, Galería Nacional de San Salvador, Museo de Arte Moderno de México,Museo del Barrio,Whitney Museum andHotel Melia in Ponce, Puerto Rico.[4]
Matorell's works have been reviewed by numerous critics. One, Nelson Rivera Rosario, analyzed three works by Martorell: Catálogo de objetos [Catalogue of Objects] (1974); White Christmas (1980); and Simplicity Patterns (1981). In his interpretation, Rivera Rosario believes the three works represent Martorell's attempt to provide thePuerto Rican viewer with "the means to see and evaluate their colonial status” so that, hopefully, they might lead to “eventual decolonization.”[13]
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