Short Bio
"Color immerses me in the intense passion of Painting." -LULU
Statement
Lourdes Rivera, LULU
ARTIST STATEMENT
Born in Puerto Rico, a tropical island in the Caribbean, is surely the reason for my passion for color. Having learned the fundamentals and techniques of Drawing and Painting during childhood, in the traditional Academic School, in addition to being gifted with Art, has been a perfect way to imbue my consciousness and embark on the path towards Art. Then, professionally trained in Architecture, -in which every Work must be conceptualized before becoming a reality-, teaches and guides me whenever I need to create.
As an Artist: Architect, Painter, Visual Artist, constantly analyzing and creating mentally, I have been simultaneously practicing Abstract Expressionism and maintaining Impressionism as a favorite form of visual communication. Working on the development of my own technique that I have called "Expressionist Impressionism" (or “Impressionist Expressionism”): a compromise between recognizable figurations, inhabiting an abstract space that challenges the three dimensions of the image in a two-dimensional format, in a defined expression by Impressionism.
My work in Painting has taken different directions, in terms of Themes, Techniques, and continues to improve and evolve. Painting, a Two-Dimensional format by nature, represents a challenge to tell a Story as well, that is why I work on Superimposed Realities about the times captured to be represented in one image.
In addition to everything said, Color is the seal and unmistakable mark of my Paintings to the point that anyone can recognize that they are mine.
Resume / CV
EDUCATION
1988: Master’s Degree in Architecture from the School of Architecture, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus.
1985: Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Design from the School of Architecture, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus.
Private Drawing and Painting lessons with Maestro Fran Cervoni, in his Drawing and Painting Studio in Santurce, Puerto Rico, during childhood and preadolescence… Painting since then, and evolving in the media: pencil drawing, charcoal, oil paint, acrylic, mixed medium; as well as in techniques: Figurative, Impressionism, Abstract Expressionism, and her own technique: "Expressionist Impressionism" or "Impressionist Expressionism", growing also in the format.
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE 2012 to the present: Freelancer in Art projects. Professional Visual Artist: Painter. Exhibiting Individually and Collectively; and realization of Artworks: Commissioned Paintings. The Works have evolved in image, representation and means, expanding the technique. With academic training and professional practice in Architecture, her Work always contains a theme, a concept, even its abstracts, which she considers fundamental.
2012-2014: Art Professor at San Ignacio de Loyola Private Jesuits School, for all groups: grades 7th to 12th. Intermediate years: freelance work in Art and Design.
2003-2007: Contractor / Self-Employed Designer.
1988-2003: Professional Practice of Architecture for private Design firms; the last 12 years as the Project Architect of the Firm.
ACTIVE MEMBER
College of Architects and Landscape Architects of Puerto Rico, CAAPPR.
Puerto Rican Association of Plastic Artists, (APAP-AIAP / UNESCO).
Association of Plastic Artists of Puerto Rico, AAPPR.
PRIZES, ACHIEVEMENTS, GRANTS
2023: Winner of 3rd Prize, Category: Abstract Painting, mixed media, at the 3rd
Biennial of Asociación de Artistas Plásticos de Puerto Rico, AAPPR; Jurors:
Rafael Rivera Rosa, Doreen Colón Camacho and Leticia Rosa.
2021: The Multinational Banking Company Capital One, selected LULU as the representative of Puerto Rico and her Artistic Work, on occasion of the Hispanic Heritage Celebration in: “El Arte Speaks! Virtual VIP Exhibit Reception LIVE”.
Only 3 Artists were selected from 3 different countries, being LULU the representative of Puerto Rico and the only woman of the chosen.
2021: A selection of her Paintings, 6 in total, was directly requested to the Artist, to be incorporated into 2 stages to be remodeled for the new programming season of the TeleOro TV Station, Channel 13.
2020: During the Pandemic, in 2020, LULU received a Grant awarded to Artists, -selected by a Jury-, by the FlamboyanFoundation.org, (which includes Lin Manuel Miranda, Michael Bloomberg, and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, among other donors and philanthropists in aid to the Arts and Culture of PR, together with the Museum of Contemporary Art of PR, MAC).
• Collective Exhibitions: College of Architects and Landscape Architects of Puerto Rico, CAAPPR; Museum of the History of Ponce; UMET Women's Expos Mujer 1, 2 and 3; Gruppo Italia Collective Expo with APAP; Artist Fairs; S econd Biennial Salón Casa Escuté Museum, Carolina, with Asociación de Artistas Plásticos de Puerto Rico, AAPPR; UMET 5th Anniversary Hound - Collective Art Expo; Virtual Expo during Pandemic with APAP; Gruppo Italia Collective Expo 10 Women: “Atypical”; 1st Palmas del Mar Art Gala, Dec. 2021; Antiguo Arsenal de la Marina Española, Old San Juan, with AAPPR, 2021; Casa Aboy Museum, Miramar, Collective with AAPPR, 2021, 2022 and 2023; Work selected to participate in the XVIII Ponce Art Biennial, 2022; Winner of 3rd Prize, Category: Painting-mixed media at the 3rd Biennial of Asociación de Artistas Plásticos de Puerto Rico, AAPPR, August, 2023; “Abstracciones y Figuraciones Expo” with Asociación Puertorriqueña de Artistas Plásticos, APAP, September through November, 2023; “Rescatando La Cultura 5”, at Casa de España en Puerto Rico, San Juan, for the Celebration of: “La Semana del Pintor Puertorriqueño y el Artista Plástico”, December, 2023.
• Individual Exhibitions: Cardiovascular Center of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean; Reinhold Jewelry Plaza las Américas, 2018; West Elm store, Plaza las Américas, 2020 and 2021; College of Engineers and Surveyors of Puerto Rico, CIAPR; Casa Italia Restaurant; 2 Scenarios of the TeleOro TV Station, Channel 13; Hotel Meliá Ponce, 2023; Reinhold Jewelers, Plaza las Américas, San Juan, April, 2023, (14 Paintings Commissioned for the 14 showcases, coordinating the jewelry with each image in the Paintings).
• Interviews in Digital Design Magazines: 90 Grados and Hound Magazine.
• TV Interviews, (5 total) in Channel 13, TeleOro for different tv shows.
• WIPR Radio Interview with Mrs. Enery Ortiz.
• Local Newspaper articles, (Endi and El Nuevo Día).
• Paintings in Private Collections: Puerto Rico and Mainland USA.
• Active in Commissioned Paintings.
