Olga Albizu

Olga Albizu

Olga Albizu was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico in 1924 and died in New York on July 30, 2005. She studied painting in Puerto Rico with renowned Spanish painter Esteban Vicente (1943-1947) and received a Bachelor of Art degree in 1946 from the University of Puerto Rico. Olga arrived in New York City in 1948 on a fellowship for post-graduate work at the Art Students League. During her training in the United States, Olga studied under several noted teachers, including abstract painter Hans Hoffman who had a significant influence on her style. She further broadened her training in Europe at L’ Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris, France; and the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze in Florence, Italy. Later, following the easels of Van Gogh and Cezanne, she spent a year painting in Provence, France. Upon her return to New York in 1953, she became an accomplished abstract painter, with solo and group exhibits in New York, Washington, Louisville, Philadelphia, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Germany.

Solo Shows

2005

Biaggi & Faure Fine Art, San Juan, Puerto Rico

2004

Biaggi & Faure Fine Art, San Juan, Puerto Rico

1999

Petrus Gallery, San Juan, Puerto Rico

1998

Art Gallery, Sacred Heart University, Santurce, Puerto Rico

1971

Sweaarkingen-Byck Gallery, Louisville, Kentucky

1969

Santiago Gallery, San Juan, Puerto Rico

1966

Pan American Union, Washington, D.C.

1961

Ateneo Puertorriqueño, San Juan, Puerto Rico

1960, 59

Roldand de Aenlle Gallery, New York

1964, 61, 58, 57

First Federal Savings Gallery, San Juan, Puerto Rico

1958, 57

Ateneo Puertorriqueño, San Juan, Puerto Rico

1956

Panora’s Gallery, New York

Group Shows

2014-2013

Our America: The Latino Presence in American Art- Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.

2005

Biaggi & Faure Fine Art, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Christmas Group Show – Biaggi & Faure Fine Art, San Juan , Puerto Rico

“La Imagen y el Paladar: Arte en la Gastronomía y la Plástica” “The Image and the Palate: Art in Gastronomy and ïn Plastics”- Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico Gala Dinner, Caribe Hilton, San Juan, Puerto Rico

“Puerto Rican Art: Image of a Culture, 25th Anniversary of the Art Collection of the Cooperativa de Seguros Multiples de Puerto Rico – Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, Santurce, Puerto Rico

Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico Gala Dinner, Caribe Hilton, San Juan, Puerto Rico

2004

Painting, Sculpture, Ceramics and Photography- Biaggi & Faure Fine Art, San Juan , Puerto Rico

III/XVI Summer Group Show, Biaggi & Faure Fine Art, San Juan , Puerto Rico

Inaugural Exhibition of the Permanent Collection of the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico

2000

Inaugural Exhibition of the Permanent Collection of the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico

1989

Bridge Between Islands, The Bronx Museum of the Arts and the Museo del Barrio, New York

III/XVI Summer Group Show, Biaggi & Faure Fine Art, Puerto Nuevo, Puerto Rico

1988

The Latin American Spirit: Art and Artists in the United States

1985

“Pintura y Gráfica de los 50” “Painting and Graphics in the 50’s”- Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico

1973

Art Heritage of Puerto Rico, Metropolitan Museum, New York

1965

Young Artists of Latin America- Esso, IBM Gallery, New York

1963, 62

Casa del Arte, San Juan, Puerto Rico

1960

Grand Street Settlement, New York

1958

I Painting and Printing Interamerican Biennial, Mexico

1957

Puerto Rican Painting, Riverside Museum, New York

Stable Gallery, New York

1956

New York City Center, New York

Collections

Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, Santurce, Puerto Rico
Museum of the University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Ateneo Puertorriqueño, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Museo de Arte de Ponce, Ponce, Puerto Rico
Israel National Museum
Banco Popular of Puerto Rico
Chase Manhattan Bank
Cooperativa de Seguros Múltiples de Puerto Rico

Distinctions

1997

Various artwork auctioned at Sotheby’s, New York

1967

2nd Prize, Ateneo Puertorriqueño, Puerto Rico

1964

2nd prize, Esso Salon of Young Artists, San Juan, Puerto Rico

1948

Student Scholarship, New York City Scholarship

Olga’s work has been recognized in various reference works, including: Famous Hispanic Americans in the Humanities: 20th Century; The Latin American Spirit: Art and Artists in the United States; Art Heritage of Puerto Rico (Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York). Her paintings have been reproduced on the cover of musical records from diverse origins – from classical works to modern jazz including: The Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Stan Getz, Bill Evans Trio, Bob Broomeyer Orchestra and the Rod Levitt Orchestra.