Biography / Biografia

Osvaldo Reyes ( 1918 - 2007)
Painter, Teacher, Art Professor

Painting donated in 2003 to the Canadian Embassy in Chile
Osvaldo Reyes Born in Santiago Chile in 1919, has developed his creative work in a wide variety of topics, applying various techniques.
The social reality in Latin America, the intimacy of the one that suffers, the contradictions which face humanity in this century, and nature, are the central themes which inspire his work. Among his paintings there are portraits, landscapes, and still life; to express these themes he has mainly used oil, piroxiline, water colors and ink.

The critics identity his style as social realism, surrealism and the environmental symbolism. He belongs to the generation of the 1940's and has been influenced by the Mexican and French styles.

Reyes work's revolves around the need to preserve nature which is endangered by the industrial development taking place in Latin America also, vegetation is presently an important theme in Osvaldo Reyes' work.
His paintings have been exhibited in various countries in Latin America, Europe and North America. His works can be found in private collections and museums in Canada, Chile, United States, France, Japan and Mexico. He has also exhibited his paintings in the University of Toronto and York University. Moreover, he has vast experience in the education and academic fields.
Presently, Osvaldo Reyes resides and works in his studio in Toronto.
Inspired by the poem of the works in his studio in Toronto and exhibits his works preferably in the Art Gallery of Ontario, in Toronto, Canada.
In Santiago, Chile he studied in the School of Fine Arts and in the Institute of Education of the University of Chile. This university and the Mexican Government awarded him a scholarship in 1949 to continue his studies in Mural Art. In Mexico, he was under the tutelage of masters such as David Alfaro Siquieros, Diego Rivera, Federico Cantu, Francisco de la Maza, Jose Gutierrez y Raul Anguiano. He also studied in the School of Fine Arts of the Autonomous University of Mexico, created by Diego Rivera.

During this period he also worked as an assistant for the Chilean poet Gabriela Mistral ( Nobel Prize of Literature), who has also influenced Reyes works.
On his return to Chile, he continued his muralist work as well as his work as a professor. Two award winning Chilean artists, Anita Cortes and Laureano Guevara, were also decisive in his development as an artist. Also important in his artistic development were Armando Lira, Oscar Gacitua, Armando Sanchez and Augusto Equiluz.

He painted the mural "La Ronda" (The Round), inspired by the poem of the same written by Gabriela Mistral.

Professional Experience

• Teaching posts in elementary, high school and university levels
• Research professor "group 9"
• Research and Specialization Centre for Education. Ministry of Education, Chile.
• Director of Educational Experimental Artistic School 1972-1973
• Manager of the Educational Experimental Artistic School 1964-1972
• Teacher of Painting and Drawing for the Educational Experimental Artistic School of Chile 1954
• Teacher on Drawing & Coloring of the Faculty of Theatre at the University of Chile
• Documentary Drawing teacher for the “Canteros School”. Ministry of Education, Chile
• Assistant teacher for the faculty of Fine Arts 1945
• Ministry of Education, Chile
• Professor, Undersecretary of Education
• Guest Professor at the Institute for Free Studies INSUMA. Fine Arts
• Teacher of Specialization Courses in Fine Arts.
• Puerto Montt and Lebu 1966
• Ministry of Education, Chile
• Professor of Scholastic Organization and Administration for the Artistic Activities at the Educational Interamerican Institute of Music O.E.A. University of Chile
• Teacher for Fine Arts workshop for children for the commune in the city of Netzahualcoyotl, Mexico
• Advisor for the Curriculum planning for the school of Fine Arts U.N.A.M. ENAP 1979- 1987

EDUCATION

• Season School UNAM, Mexico
• Contest of Educational Planning UNAM 1978
• Faculty of Fine Arts University of Chile 1947
• Pedagogy Institute of the University of Chile 1968
• Teacher Fine Arts University of Chile
• Won scholarship for contest of Murals Mexico 1949-1950
• Professor Federico Cantu, Diego Rivera
• University of Chile

 

 

Exhibits / Exhibiciones:

2006 Consulate of Korea Art Gallery
2003 RETROSPECTIVA 1973-2003 MUSEO DE ARTE CONTEMPORÁNEO
1991 CHILE REFLECCIONES “INK ON PAPER” - TORONTO, CANADA
1989 Art Gallery Toronto at the AGO
1988 York University
1988 Laurentian University – Toronto , Canada
1988 THE ART OF OSVALDO REYES - SALA 211 F.C. De Founders College, Universidad de York – Toronto, Canada
1987 University of Toronto
1987 REFLECCIONES “INK ON PAPER” - MEXICO
1985 EXPOSICION DIBUJOS – Osvaldo Reyes INBA (Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes) Mexico.

1985 EXPOSICION OSVALDO REYES - Collegio de Bachilleres - DIBUJOS A TINTA CHINA – Casa de la Cultura, Colegio de Bachilleres – Piedras Negras, Mexico
1985 Drawings in India Ink, Cafe-Galeria - Piedras Negras, Mexico
TALLER TENDERINI – TALLER 14 – Exhibition of Drawings –
Work created from 1949-1950 1950
LA RONDA – Mural Permanent Work a the Escuela Cuidad del Nino 60’s
Group Exhibitions
“ KOREAN & LATINAMERICAN VISUAL ARTS”- Toronto, Canada
( Korean Consulate Art Gallery) 2006
“TOTEM DE LA AMISTAD” -- Toronto, Canada
Erika Barrientos – Private Event 2005
“ LATINOAMERICA 2006” -- Toronto, Canada
Etobicoke Art Gallery / Fundarte Latinoamerica 2006
Pro Chile Exhibit
Distillery District Toronto, Canada
2005
“ LATINOAMERICA 2005”-- Toronto, Canada
Etobicoke Art Gallery / Fundarte Latinoamerica 2005
Mosaico 2005, Mississauga Art Gallery
Fundarte Latinoamérica 2005
CONSULADO DE CHILE EN TORONTO, “ Cueca Chilena” PERMANTE-- Toronto, Canada 2004
PROJECTO ADDRIENNE (Un convenio Canadá-Chile. ) -- Toronto, Canada 2003
MUSEO SALVADOR ALLENDE DIBUJO “LUMI VIDELA” 2003
EMBAJADA DE CANADA OLEO “INMIGRANTES” PERMANENTE 2004
BIBLIOTECA NACIONAL DE CHILE OLEO “SIERRA CUBANA” PERMANENTE
GALLERY 203 – Toronto, Canada 1987
DR. ATLE , Mexico D.F. 1982
TRES EXPRESIONES – Mexico DF, Mexico 1982
SALA DE EXPOSICIONES DE LA UNION PANAMERICANA, Washington, USA 1956
GALERIA “ARTE MODERNO” - Mexico D.F., Mexico 1952