Obed Gómez (born 1966), also known as "The Puerto Rican Picasso," is a Puerto Rican artist of modern art.
Early Life and Education
Gómez was born and raised in Santurce, a section of San Juan, the capital city of Puerto Rico. His grandmother recognized his artistic talent when she saw him drawing at the age of three. He received his primary education in a public school and began private art classes at age eleven. He later attended the League of Art of San Juan for drawing and painting classes. After graduating high school, he enrolled at the University of the Sacred Heart in San Juan and simultaneously studied at the Andres Buseo Academy. He earned a bachelor's degree in Communications with a minor in visual arts.
Career
Gómez initially struggled as an artist. His career changed after he moved to Orlando, Florida, in 1995, where he met his future wife, Sarah Lloyd, who encouraged him to pursue his art. He set up a studio in his home and became a born-again Christian.
Artistic Style
Gómez's style ranges from vividly realistic to wildly abstract, often incorporating whimsical elements. His subjects include dancers, roosters with the colors of the Puerto Rican flag, and other representations of Puerto Rican culture and heritage. His trademark is the use of bold and bright hues. His artwork has appeared on the covers of the Puerto Rican Professional and Business Leaders Guide, the brochure for Orlando's Puerto Rican Parade, and O! Arts Magazine.
Exhibitions
His work was exhibited at the Galeria Latina in Cornwall, England, where a critic nicknamed him the "Puerto Rican Picasso." He has held solo exhibitions at venues including the Universidad del Sagrado Corazon (Santurce, PR), the Orlando Public Library, the Office of the Governor of Florida, and Valencia Community College. His group exhibitions include shows at the Orlando Museum of Art, the Brevard Museum of Art & Science, and the Museum of the Americas (Miami).
Honors and Recognition
In 2003, Gómez was named godfather of the Melbourne Puerto Rican Day Parade. In 2004, Lifetime Network selected his artwork to decorate the set of the television series Division. That same year, he received the Paoli Award in the Visual Arts Category. Some of his paintings have sold for over $5,000. He has donated many works to children's fundraising auctions and created the web page for "Give Kids the World," an organization that grants wishes to children with life-threatening diseases.
Current Life
Gómez works as a graphic designer, painter, and youth art professor. He resides in Orlando, Florida, with his wife and children.
