Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE - Raúl Vásquez.

March 2006, Washington DC

Press Release

January 2006, Washington DC

"Anima" - a solo exhibit of works on paper by acclaimed Panamanian artist and poet Raúl Vásquez opens at Prada Gallery on January 25 th .   The exhibit will run through February 18 th .

"For Raúl Vásquez, art is inspired by his poetic visions and associated with a style that replicates the coarse surfaces and textures reminiscent of ancient walls and caves and peopled with fantastic creatures ," writes Carol Damian , an expert on Latin American Art at Florida International University. An excellent craftsman with complete control over his media, Vásquez uses in this exhibition varied materials such as oils, acrylics, pastels, ink, mud and clay.

Raúl Vásquez is one of Panama's best known artists, and has exhibited in France, USA, Dominican Republic, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, Japan Venezuela and Panama.

  He was born in Los Santos Province, Panama in 1954, and continues to live and work in rural Panama.   Partly self-taught but with academic studies in Florence, Italy and in Mexico, Raúl Vásquez has been most influenced by Paul Klee, Joan Miró, Jean Dubuffet, the Mexican School and especially by the Mexican artists Tamayo and Toledo.  

Dedicated to chamanismo (shamanism) , Vásquez brings to his work a certain halo of "mystery and fascination with the unknown," according to Angela Picardi , a Panamanian art critic and writer.

Prada Gallery is open from Tuesday thru Saturday , and Mondays by appointment only.   It is located in the heart of Georgetown in Washington DC, at 1030 Wisconsin Ave., NW.