Artist Bio
Gamaliel Ramirez is one of the great pioneers of Chicago based Latino art. He specializes in drawing and painting murals. Ramirez has worked as an art instructor since 1971 and his work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. For the last thirty years, he has created images of Puerto Ricans and other minorities in the urban environment. Ramirez’s subject matter, as well as his medium, explores the irony of his different worlds. His themes often relate to Caribbean culture, combining urban landscapes, primitive figures, and Afro-centric masks, creating a cultural cosmology. His commitment to the exploration of cultural identity and roots of the Puerto Rican community is demonstrated throughout his work.
Artist Statement
Like every artist of Hispanic descent who was born and raised in North America, the importance of defining a cultural identity was a source of inspiration for me in my first years of artistic production. The search for both my past and present intertwine in my artistic vehicle for self-expression. People have always used art to communicate and celebrate the meaningful aspects of their lives. Artistic expression can be as important to communicating as reading, writing and speaking, but students often don’t have the opportunity to develop this vital and effective communicative means.
Links
www.gamalielramirez.net
John Lennon
Summer Program Supervisor
Cat
Sea of Flags
In Rhythm with the Arts