Oscar Velasquez (April 5, 1944-Sept. 10, 2021) was an American artist and muralist.
Personal Life and Education
Velasquez was born in Pharr, Texas, to migrant farm workers. In 1953, his family moved to Putnam County, Ohio to pick tomotoes. He attended Pandora-Gilboa High School, graduating in 1965. He attended Cooper School of Art in Cleveland on a scholarship. He is the brother of labor union activist Baldemar Velasquez.
Career
His first professional position was with American Greetings. He worked there for six years, where he was promoted to direct the design department. Seeking greater independence, Velasquez left for a solo career.
Awards and recognition
Velasquez was a member of the American Watercolor Society. He received the following awards:
- 1973-1974 - Mary S Litt medal
- 1976 - High Winds medal
- 1978 - national juror
- 1981 - Dolphin Fellowship
Collections
His art is in the following collections:
- Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, Nebraska
- Erskine College in Due West, South Carolina
- The Henry Ward Ranger Fund, New York
- The Opera House, Abbeville, South Carolina
- Self Memorial Hospital, Greenwood, South Carolina
- Farm Labor Organizing Committee, Toledo
- The Lion and the Lamb Peace Arts Center, Bluffton University, Bluffton, Ohio
Murals
- 1991 - Iva, South Carolina
- 1994 - Subotica, Serbia
- 2007 - Findlay, Ohio
- 2010 - Bluffton, Ohio
- 2012 - Kalida, Ohio
- 2014 - Findlay, Ohio
- 2015 - Findlay, Ohio
- 2016 - Macedonia, Ohio
- 2017 - Pandora, Ohio
- 2018 - Twinsburg, Ohio
- 2019 - Independence, Ohio
References
- "Oscar Velasquez". The Courier. The Courier. Sep 20, 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
- ^ Marotta, Eric (July 13, 2016). "Muralist Oscar Velasquez looks for walls to transform in Macedonia". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
- "Iva Depot Mural". exploresc.org. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
- "Old Iva Depot Mural". hmdb.org. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
- Arnold, Austin (April 14, 2010). "Pardon me boy, is that the Bluffton choo-choo?". The Bluffton Icon. Bluffton Icon Media LLC. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
- "Velasquez mural complete". hometownstations.com. WLIO. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
- "Pioneer Days Mural". hmdb.org. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
- "Mural Celebrates University and Community Partnership". findlay.edu. U Findlay. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
- "Dark Side of the Moon Mural". visitfindlay.com. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
- "Artist working on new mural in Pandora". hometownstations.com. WLIO. July 24, 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
- Freeman, Laura. "Twinsburg mural memorializes military history". beaconjournal.com. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
- Peterson, Erica (Jun 19, 2019). "Historic mural is first step toward revitalizing downtown Independence". Independence Today. ScripType Publishing Inc. Retrieved 27 December 2024.