José Morales
New York, USA, 1947
Biography Details
Painter, draftsman, installation artist, and teacher. Morales first studied drawing, painting, and composition under Ethel Katz at the Art Students League of New York. In 1964 he moved to Spain and studied drawing at the Academia Peña and at the Círculo de Bellas Artes in Madrid. The following year he went to France and entered the American College Abroad and the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. As a recipient of a Ford Foundation grant, he once again attended the Art Students League of New York and studied sculpture under José DeCreeft and painting under Julian Levi. He has taught drawing and painting at the Art School of the Museo del Barrio and at Boricua College, where he was artist-in-residence in 1985. His dramatic compositions present, sometimes with irony, disturbing images of Puerto Ricans’ social situation, including the syncretism characteristic of the people of that society. He is interested in exploring issues related with failures of communication, isolation and solitude, and violence in the contemporary world. Formally, his work, in all the media and genres he works in, reflects great technical and conceptual mastery.
Artist Statement
"Jose Morales has been developing his artist language from a complex iconographic register that refers us to a set of images where the feelings of seclusion and violence - the different forms of isolation and solitude - are transformed and condensed into a series of motives that summarize the processes of fragmentation and dissolution, characteristic in late modern societies."
Source: Nuevos espacios de clausura, Fernando Cross, Catalogue, José Morales, Paintings 2002.
Formation
Education
1966
- Art Student League, New York, United States
1965-1966
- Ecole des Beaux Arts, Paris, France
- American College Abroad, Paris, France
1964-1965
- Academia Peña, Madrid, Spain
1959-1964
- Art Student League, Nueva York, Estados Unidos
1962-1964
- High School of Art and Design, New York, United States
Profesional Experience
1992
- Co-organizer. Festival de la Tiza en el Barrio, New York, United States
1991-1993
- Professor of Art. Studio Museum, New York, United States
1983
- Professor of Painting. Civic Association, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States
1979
- Professor of Art. El Museo de Barrio, New York, United States
1975-1979
- Professor of Art. Boricua College, New York, United States
1974
- Professor of Art. El Museo de Barrio, New York, United States
1973
- Professor of Painting and Drawing. Kelly Street Creative Arts Center, New York, United States
Exhibitions
Solo Shows
2008
- Obra reciente, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2005
- José Morales: Instalación, Universidad Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
2004
- Puerta, Philosophy Box, New York, United States
2003
- Vuelo Nocturno, Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2002
- José Morales: Pinturas, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2001
- José Morales, Panoramas desde el Puente, Museo de las Américas, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2000
- José Morales: Recent Drawings, Jersey City University, New Jersey, United States
1999
- José Morales, Dibujos, Casa de las Américas, Havana, Cuba
- Asamblea, Galería de Arte, Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- José Morales: Recent Works, Central Fine Arts Gallery, New York, United States
- José Morales, Dibujos, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- José Morales: Pinturas, Galería Sin Título, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1995
- Four CornersCuatro Esquinas, Recent Paintings and Drawings by José Morales, Museo del Barrio, New York, United States
1994
- José Morales, Painting and Erasure, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- José Morales: Recent Works, Galería Raíces, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1993
- José Morales: Recent Paintings, The Bronx Museum of the Arts, New York, United States
- José Morales: Recent Work, Galería Raíces, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1992
- José Morales: Paintings and Drawings, Galería Raíces, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1985
- José Morales: Paintings and Drawings, The Bronx Museum of the Arts, New York, United States
1981
- Recent Paintings by José Morales, Vorpal Gallery, New York, United States
1980
- José Morales: Recent Work, Vorpal Gallery, New York, United States
1979
- José Morales: Paintings and Drawings, Museo del Barrio, New York, United States
- José Morales: Paintings from New York City Series I, Alternative Museum, New York, United States
1972
- Ustallning Av Minaryrtecknigar, Kinna Kommunalgus, Sweden
- José Morales: Peintures 1970-1972 , Nagasaki Art Museum, Nagaski; Gallery Universe, Tokyo; Tokei Dai Cultural Center, Saporo; Takai Gallery, Kagashima, Japan
- José Morales, Gakkeri 54, Goteborg, Sweden
1970
- José Morales, Boras Art Museum, Boras, Sweden
- José Morales-Malningar, Collage, Laverigar, Marks Kotsgille, Kinna, Sweden
1968
- Morales, Exposition de peinture, Gallerie Jean Camion, Paris, France
- José Morales, Galleri Bengtsson, Stockholm, Sweden
Group Shows
2012
- CCC: Caribes, Casa Cortés, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Interconexiones, lecturas curatoriales de la colección del MAPR, Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2009
- El Bodegón Puertorriqueño a Principios del Siglo XXI: Homenaje a Oller, Galería Petrus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2008
- Colección Reyes-Veray, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2005
- Link, Philosophy Box, New York, United States
- Décimo Aniversario: Galería de Arte, Galería de Arte, Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2004
- 26ta Bienal de Sao Palo, Fundacao de Sao Paolo, Brazil
- The Ten from New York, Macedonian Center of NY, New York, United States
- New Works From the Permanent Collection, Museo del Barrio, New York, United States
- La otra ventana, Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2003
- Voces y Visiones: Highlights From El Museo del Barrio’s Permanent Collection, Museo del Barrio, New York, United States
- Muestra Nacional de Artes Plásticas, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Aperto, Varelli Arte Contemporáneo, Dominican Republic
- Obras selectas de la pintura puertorriqueña, Uri Art Gallery, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2002
- XXXIV Festival International de la Peinture, Musee d’Cagnes, France
- V Certamen Nacional de Artes Plásticas, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2001
- El arte en Puerto Rico a través del tiempo, parte II, Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Marks of the Soul, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Ratón, Florida,United States
- Entre Líneas Between Lines Entre les lignes, Palacio de Bellas Artes, Santo Domingo, Dominican Rebublic
2000
- Muestra Nacional de Artes Plásticas, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Creo en Vieques, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- UTopistas, Galería de Arte, Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Mitos en el Caribe, Casa Las Américas, Habana, Cuba
- Los Tesoros de la Pintura Puertorriqueña, Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- IV Certamen Nacional de Artes Plásticas, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- The Harlemites, The G Spot Colab, New York, United States
- Puerto RicoRico PuertoQue Puerto, Instituto de América, Granada, Spain
1999
- Le Salon Grands et Jeunes D’Aujourd’hui, Espece Eiffel, Paris, France
1998
- XXX Internacional de Estandartes, Centro Cultural de Tijuana, Mexico
- El papel del papel, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Guadalupe Arts Center, San Antonio, Texas, United States
- Espacio en Transición-Transición en Espacio, Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Caribbean Connections, Discovery Museum, Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States
- 100 Años Despúes, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- New Works, New Visions, Taller Boricua Gallery, New York, United States
1997
- V Salón de Dibujo, Museo de Arte Moderno, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
- New Works From the Permanent Collection, Part II, Museo del Barrio, New York, United States
- V en blanco y negro, Galería Sin Título, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1996
- V Bienal Internacional de Pintura, Museo de Arte Moderno, Cuenca, Ecuador
- The Richness of Diversity, Art From Mexico and Puerto Rico, The Susquehanna Art Museum, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States
- Excavating Culture, The Brattleboro Museum, Vermont, Virginia, United States
- LegacyLegado, The Old State House, Hartford, Connecticut, United States
- El Santo en el Arte Puertorriqueño, Museo de las Américas, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Exhibition Untitled, Central Fine Arts Gallery, New York, United States
1995
- National Showcase, Alternative Museum, New York, United States
- III International Biennale of Graphics Arts, Municipal Museum of Arts, Gyor, Hungary
- IV Salón de Dibujo, Museo de Arte Moderno, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
- III Certamen Nacional de Artes Plásticas, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1994
- II Bienal Internacional de Pintura del Caribe y Centroamérica, Museo de Arte Moderno, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
- Reclaiming History, Museo del Barrio, New York, United States
- The Puerto Rican Embassy, Kenkeleba Gallery, New York, United States
- Art in Transit, Hostos Art Gallery, New York, United States
1993
- II Certamen Nacional de Artes Plásticas, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Muestra de Arte Puertorriqueña 93, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1990
- Taller Alma Boricua, Museo del Barrio, New York, United States
- PS 39 and the Longwood Community 1950-70’s, Longwood Arts Gallery, New York, United States
1988
- The 163rd Annual Exhibition, National Academy of Design, New York, United States
1986
- Littlejohn, Smith Gallery, New York, United States
1985
- Fine Arts Exhibition, New York National Bank, New York, United States
1984
- CuartetoArtworks, Hostos Gallery, New York, United States
1983
- Vorpal Gallery, New York, United States
- Keeping Culture Alive, Municipal Arts Society, New York, United States
1982
- Vorpal Gallery, New York, United States
- Recents Adquisitions, Museo del Barrio, New York, United States
- Visual Politics, Alternative Museum, New York, United States
- The Four Directions, American Indian Community House Gallery, New York, United States
1981
- Vorpal Gallery, New York, United States
- Alternative Museum, New York, United States
- Voices Expressing What Is, Wesbeth Gallery, New York, United States
1979
- The Permanent Collection, Alternative Museum, New York, United States
1977-1979
- Ancient RootsNew Visions, Museum of Contemporary Arts, Chicago, Illinois; San Antonio Museum, San Antonio, Texas; Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, New York; Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, Colorado; Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Los Angeles, California; El Paso Museum of Art, Texas; Albuquerque Museum, New Mexico; Tucson Museum of Art, Arizona; National Collection of Fine Arts, Washington DC, United States
1975
- Paintings and Assemblages, Forum Gallery, New York, United States
1981
- The Art Heritage of Puerto Rico, Pre-Columbian to Present, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Museo del Barrio, New York, United States
1972
- Vannersborgs Art Museum, Sweden
1971
- Kinna Kommuhalhus, Sweden
- Nolhaga Slott Alingsas, Sweden
1970
- Reflexer I, Konsthallen, Goteborg, Sweden
1969
- Galleri Bengtsson, Stockholm, Sweden
- Les superindenpendants, Petit Palais, Paris, France
- Galleri Bengtsson, Stockholm, Sweden
1967
- Exposition des artes plastiques, Casa de España, Paris, France
Awards, Distinctions and Achievements
2002
- Grant, Joan Mitchell Painters & Sculptors. The Joan Mitchel Foundation, New York, United States
- First Mention by Jury. XXXIV Festival International de Pienture, Cagnes, France
2001
- Fellowship Award, The New York Foundation for the Arts, United States
1999
- Best Installation of the Year. International Association of Art Critics, Puerto Rico Chapter, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1998
- First Prize. III Salón Internacional de Estandartes, Tijuana, Mexico
- Honorable Mention. III Salón Internacional de Estandartes, Tijuana, Mexico
- Award. International Association of Art Critics, Puerto Rico Chapter, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Painting Award, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1997
- Best Individual Exhibition of the Year. International Association of Art Critics, Puerto Rico Chapter, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Honorable Mention. V Salón de Dibujo, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
- Honor Award for International Outreach. V Salón de Dibujo, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
- Fellowship Award. The New York Foundation for the Arts, United States
1996
- Third Prize. V Bienal Internacional de Pintura, Cuenca, Ecuador
- Honorable Mention. V Bienal Internacional de Pintura, Cuenca, Ecuador
- Award. International Association of Art Critics, Puerto Rico Chapter, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1995
- First Prize. Certamen Nacional de Artes Plásticas, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1994
- Best Individual Exhibition of the Year. International Association of Art Critics, Puerto Rico Chapter, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- International Award. II Bienal Internacional de Pintura del Caribe y Centroamérica, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. International Association of Art Critics, Puerto Rico Chapter, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Honorable Mention. II Bienal Internacional de Pintura del Caribe y Centroamérica, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
1991
- BRIO Award for Artistic Excellence. Cultural Affairs of the City of New York, New York, United States
1986
- First Prize. Fine Arts Competition, New York National Bank, New York, United States
Collections
- Museo del Barrio, New York, United States
- Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Alternative Museum, New York, United States
- Bronx Museum of Arts, New York, United States
Bibliography
Catalogues
Cros, Fernando. “Pintura y borradura. Impresiones sobre la obra de José Morales”. Catálogo de Exhibición José Morales: Pintura y Borradura, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 1994.
“José Morales: Recent Paintings”, The Bronx Museum of the Arts, Nueva York, Estados Unidos, 1994.
Martorell, Antonio. “José está pintando”. Catálogo de Exhibición José Morales: Obra Reciente, Galería Raices, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 1993.
“José Morales: Pinturas 2002”, Antiguo Arsenal de la Marina Española, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 2003.
“Panorama desde el puente”, Museo de las Américas, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 2001.
“Pintura y borradura”, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 1994.
Books
Hermandad de Artistas Gráficos de Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico Arte e Identidad, Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 1998.
Los tesoros de la pintura puertorriqueña. Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico. San Juan, P.R. 2000.
Newspapers
Alegre Barrios, Mario. “Pintura y borradura en el MAC”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), 18 de noviembre de 1994, p. 75.
Alegre Barrios, Mario. “Sexta subasta de arte latino”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), 1 de febrero de 2003.
Alegres Barrios, Mario. “Distinciones y muestras boriuas en el extranjero”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), 3 de enero de 1995, p. 58.
Alvarez Lezama, Manuel. “Morales offers outstanding Works”. The San Juan Star (San Juan, PR), 27 de noviembre de 1994, pp. 16-17.
Alvarez Lezama, Manuel. “Morales’ installation help us deal with demons, dreams”. The San Juan Star (San Juan, PR), 3 de mayo de 1999.
Colón Camacho, Doreen. “El pluralismo artístico de José Morales”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), 9 de diciembre de 1994, pp. 120-121.
Colón Camacho, Doreen. “Un espejo vivencial”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), 25 de noviembre de 1994.
García Gutiérrez, Enrique. “¿Por qué sonríe la Mona Lisa?”, El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), 16 de mayo de 1999, pp. 16-17.
García Gutiérrez, Enrique. “José Morales en Galería Raices”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), 12 de abril de 1992, pp. 12-15.
García Gutiérrez, Enrique. “José Morales: figuración y violencia”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), 14 de noviembre de 1993, pp. 12-14.
González, Leyra. “Cita a las 8:08 pm”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), 4 de agosto de 2008.
López, Ana Enid. “Doble Oferta en el MAC”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), 9 de abril de 2008.
Martorell, Antonio. “Pintando con José”. Dialogo (San Juan, PR), enero 1995, p.49.
Paniagua, Tere. “No sabe na”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), 30 de mayo de 1999.
Tió, Teresa. “José Morales y la estética de la incomodidad”. Primera Hora (San Juan, PR), 24 de abril de 1999.
Vicéns-Anguita, Marilyn. “El juego de la sillita”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), 11 de abril de 1999.
Martorell, Antonio. “Mi casa es su casa”. Primera Hora (San Juan, PR), 1 de abril de 1999.
Alvarez Lezama, Manuel. “Espacios paves way for even grater shows”. The San Juan Star (San Juan, PR), 29 de octubre de 1998.
Alvarez Lezama, Manuel. “Good installations enlighten, inspire and stimulate”. The San Juan Star (San Juan, PR), 24 de octubre de 1998.
De Cuba, Natalia. “Step in, browse and step out”. The San Juan Star (San Juan, PR), 23 de octubre de 1998.
Alegre Barrios Mario. “Un espacio vivo”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), 22 de octubre de 1998.
De Cuba, Natalia. “Morales sets sight on Espacios en transición”. The San Juan Star (San Juan, PR), 15 de octubre de 1998.
Rodríguez, Jorge. “Espacio y movimiento tridimensional”. El Vocero (San Juan, PR), 12 de octubre de 1998.
De Cuba, Natalia. “From a rough, unfinished realm to art”. The San Juan Star (San Juan, PR), 1 de octubre de 1998.