Sylvia Blanco
San Juan, P.R., 1943-2017
Biography Details
Sculptor, ceramicist, and teacher. Blanco graduated from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras, in 1964, and began courses at the Caparra Studio in Guaynabo (founded by Jaime Suárez and Maribel Toro in 1972) and the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture. She has taken part in several local events and, internationally, in the International Art Ceramics Competition in Faenza, Italy, in 1983 and 1986, where her pieces were awarded gold medals. Her work helped shatter the notion of ceramics as a “minor art” when it was given first prize for sculpture at the annual Plastic Arts Competition sponsored by the Ateneo Puertorriqueño; she later became chair of the Department of Sculpture at the Puerto Rico School of Plastic Arts. She has worked in several ceramic techniques, with particular mastery of reduction firing. The circle is a constant motif in her work, almost always functioning as a ground for the landscapes and seascapes that she favors.
Artist Statement
“The ceramic universe is so broad that it never bores. I’ve been using clay as a medium of expression for more than 25 years. I only work clay fired at low temperatures. The finish made with slips and oxides was a good complement for my spheres and landscapes from the 1980s when I was exploring the relationship between my surroundings and my material. Then, the subject of female pathos seduced me for several years, hearts, altars and monoliths RAKU fired, of course. For me RAKU was exorcism, and metamorphosis.
I am passionate about the research and possibilities of expression offered by clay - three-dimensional sculptures, plaques and reliefs, the hand-built vessel, installations and the combination with other materials. I am interested in the challenge of finding that balance between expression, permanence and fragility.
Now I’m working on a mural depicting images rescued from the chaos of memory, a memory of a Caribbean woman, covered with color and shiny enamel ".
Sylvia Blanco, 2007
Formation
Education
2013
- Study trip. Vietnam and Cambodia
1964
- Bachelor’s of Art. Universidad de Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Professional Experience
2007
- Director and Designer. “Laguna del Condado” Mural", Compañía de Parques Nacionales, San Juan, Puerto Rico and Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2004-2007
- Director and Designer. Oxmar Center Mural, Baldwin School of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2001
- Field Trip to Madrid and Bilbao. Students from the Arnaldo Roche Scholarship and Faculty from Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2000-2001
- Collaborator. Painter John Balossi’s Mural. Galería Viota, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1999
- Field Trip to Madrid and Bilbao. Students from the Arnaldo Roche Scholarship and Faculty from Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Director. Ceramics Workshop, Programa de Arte en los Barrios (Art in Underserved Communities Program), Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1996-1998
- Coordinator. SOS Program in Puerto Rico, Smithonian Institution and National Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Propriety, Washington DC, United States
1997-1998
- Director. Mural Program, Escuela Vilá Mayo and La Perla, Programa de Arte en los Barrios (Art in Underserved Communities Program), Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1997
- Director. Ceramics Mural Program, Municipality of San Juan, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1995-1998
- Director. Sculpture Faculty, Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1993-1994
- Director. Visual Arts Division, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1993
- President. Asociación de Mujeres Artistas de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Co-editor. Nueva Imagen Publishing House, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1989-1991
- Director. Summer Ceramics Mural Program, Oficina de Desarrollo Cultural, Municipality of San Juan, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1988-1991
- Director. Sculpture Faculty, Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1987
- Lecturer. II Ceramics Triennial, Zagreb, Yugoslavia
1983-1985
- Professor. Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico, Metropolitan Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1982-1993
- Member. Board of Directors, Art Students League, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1982-1987
- Professor, Art Students League, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1978-1980
- Member. Grupo Manos de Cerámica, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Exhibitions
Solo Shows
2005
- Galería Botello, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1998
- El barro en las manos, Museo de Arte e Historia, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1992
- Museo de Arte e Historia, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1991
- Pájaros, El Fénix de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1989
- Galería Botello, Plaza Las Américas, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1982
- Galería San Gerónimo, Condado Plaza Hotel, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1979
- Formas y superficies, Liga de Estudiantes de Arte, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1978
- Galería Manos, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Group Shows
2013
- Arteando, Museo-Casa de Arecibo, Arecibo, Puerto Rico
- Exhibición en pro de Ballets de San Juan, Centro de Bellas Artes Luis A. Ferré, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2007
- Contexto puertorriqueño: del rococó colonial al arte global, Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2006
- Muestra Nacional de Arte Puertorriqueño, Antiguo Arsenal de la Marina Española, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2005
- Espacio 356, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2001
- Piedra, metal y madera, Museo de Arte de Ponce, Ponce, Puerto Rico
- Remembrances, Painted Bride Art Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
- Intercambio 3/2, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2000
- Barro de dos tierras, Mont Petit Gallery, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Casa Abierta en la Escuela de Artes Plásticas, Art Gallery Nights, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1999
- Aniversario Mon Petit Gallery, Mont Petit Gallery, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- VI Bienal de Cerámica de Casa Candina, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Maestros y Alumnos: Tres generaciones, Consejo de Educación Superior de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Pequeño formato de la Galería Luiggi Marrozzini, Museo de Las Américas, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- 100 años después, cien artistas contemporáneos, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1998
- Cerámica puertorriqueña, Clay Studio, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
- Facultad de la Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico, Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- El Barro en las manos, Museo de Arte e Historia, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Siete Evas y un Adán, Mon Petit Art Gallery, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1997
- Facultad de la Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico, Museo de Arte e Historia, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Intercambio 3, Centro Cultural Alfa de Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico
- Trienal de Cerámica, Zagreb, Yugoslavia
- El cordón, Galería Botello, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1996
- La Maleta, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- V Bienal de Cerámica de Casa Candina, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1995
- Intercambio 3, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1993
- Cerámica puertorriqueña hoy, Museo de Arte e Historia, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Muestra Nacional, Antiguo Arsenal de la Marina Española, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Cerámica puertorriqueña, Galería Normandie, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- La vasija en la cerámica contemporánea puertorriqueña, Museo Casa Roig, Humacao, Puerto Rico
1993-1992
- Semana de la Mujer, Plaza Las Américas, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1992-1991
- Nuestro autorretrato, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan; Museo de Arte de Ponce, Ponce, Puerto Rico
1992
- Exhibición conmemorativa del 25 aniversario de la Liga de Estudiantes de Arte, Citibank, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- I Muestra Nacional de Artes Plásticas, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1991
- Exposición internacional por el fin del hambre en el mundo, Chase Manhattan Bank, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Hilvanando imágenes, Galería Normandie, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- 9/9 Imprimiendo, Liga de Estudiantes de Arte, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1990
- La cerámica en auge desde Puerto Rico, Centro de Arte Euro Americana, Caracas, Venezuela
- Mujeres artistas: protagonistas de los ‘80, Museo de las Casas Reales, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1988
- Growing Beyond: Women Artists from Puerto Rico, Museo del Barrio, New York, United States
1987
- II Bienal de La Habana, Havana, Cuba
1987, 1985
- Trienal Mundial de Cerámica Pequeña, Zagreb, Yugoslavia
1986, 1984
- Conconzo Internacionale della Ceramica D’arte, Museo della Ceramica, Faenza, Italy
1987-1986
- Encuentro de ceramistas contemporáneos de América Latina, Museo de Arte de Ponce, Ponce, Puerto Rico
1986
- I Congreso de artistas abstractos de Puerto Rico, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Cogidas de la mano, Museo de Bellas Artes, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Barro y fuego, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1985
- XXXII Aniversario, Galería Botello, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1984
- Cerámica contemporáneo puertorriqueña, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Cayey Campus, Cayey; Galería Francisco Oller, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico, Metropolitan Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1983
- Arte Actual Puerto Rico, Chase Manhattan Bank, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Woman artists from Puerto Rico, Cayman Galley, New York, United States
1980-1981
- Sculpture in clay from Puerto Rico, Museum of Fine Arts, Springfield, Massachusetts, United States
1980
- Expresiones en barro, Museo de Historia, Antropología y Arte, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Awards, Distinctions and Achievements
1996
- Honorable Mention. Fifth Biennial of Ceramics, Casa Candina, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1988
- Honorable Mention. First Biennial of Ceramics, Casa Candina, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1987
- Acquisition Award. II Ceramics Triennial, Zagreb, Yugoslavia
- Excellence in the Arts Award. Asociación Productos de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1986
- Acquisition Award. 44th Ceramic Art Competition, Faenza, Italy
1984
- Distinguished Lady in the Visual Arts. Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1983
- First Prize of Sculpture. Ateneo Puertorriqueño Competition, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Acquisition Award. 41st Ceramic Art Competition, Faenza, Italy
1979
- Sole Prize. Commemorative Sculpture, VII Juegos Centroamericanos y del Caribe, Liga de Estudiantes de Arte, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Collections
- Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Museo de Arte de Ponce, Ponce, Puerto Rico
- Compañía de Turismo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Ateneo Puertorriqueño, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Centro de Bellas Artes Luis A. Ferré, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Colección Mimara, Zagreb, Yugoslavia
- Museo della Ceramica, Faenza, Italy
- Casa Candina de Cerámica, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Ortho Pharmaceutical, Manatí, Puerto Rico
- Admiral’s Club de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Bibliography
Books
“Maestros della Ceramica Moderna”. Italia: Faenza Editrice, 1986, p. 6.
Pérez Lizano, Manuel. “Arte Contemporáneo Puertorriqueño” 1973, p. 35.
Speight, Charlotte. “Images in Clay Sculpture”. Nueva York: Harper & Row, 1983, p. 127-128.
Magazines
“Cuadernos de la Facultad de Bellas Artes de la Universidad de Puerto Rico”. Núm. 15, 1986, pp. 101-106.
Frambes-Buxeda, Arline. “La tierra latinoamericana como historia de mitos en sus manos; Sylvia Blanco”. Homines, (San Juan, PR), tomo 6, 1989.
Parks, Dennis. “Buon Giorno Faenza”. Ceramics Monthly, (Estados Unidos), junio de 1987, pp. 41-45.
Rodríguez, Myrna. “Sylvia Blanco: En el ámbito artístico internacional”. Plastica (San Juan, PR), Núm 16, 1981, pp. 65-67.
Torruella Leval, Susana. “Special Multicultural Issue, Woman Artists from Puerto Rico”. Helicon Vine, vol. 14 & 15, 1986, pp.50-59.