Antonio Broccoli Porto
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Antonio Broccoli Porto (born September 19, 1955) is an American
artist An artist is a person engaged in an activity related to creating art, practicing the arts, or demonstrating the work of art. The most common usage (in both everyday speech and academic discourse) refers to a practitioner in the visual arts o ...
,
visual art The visual arts are art forms such as painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, photography, video, image, filmmaking, design, crafts, and architecture. Many artistic disciplines such as performing arts, conceptual art, and texti ...
ist and
sculptor Sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. Sculpture is the three-dimensional art work which is physically presented in the dimensions of height, width and depth. It is one of the plastic arts. Durable sc ...
.


Early years

Broccoli Porto's father was an Italian national and his mother's family, Porto, claim Puerto Rican heritage, having originally settled in the town of Cayey. His parents met and married in
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
where Broccoli Porto was born. As a child, he became interested in art and his artistic talents were appreciated by both his family and teachers alike. After he received his primary and secondary education he enrolled and entered Iona College,
New Rochelle New Rochelle ( ; in ) is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States. It is a suburb of New York City, located approximately from Midtown Manhattan. In 2020, the city had a population of 79,726, making it the 7th-largest city and 2 ...
,
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...
. There he took up fine art studies and earned a B.A. degree in Arts.Folkloric Art Gallery
/ref>Water Color on Line
watercolor-online.com. Accessed March 6, 2024.


First art exhibition

In May 1979, he held an art exhibition in the Thomas Payne Museum of New Rochelle, New York, as part of a Nationally accredited Honors Program Thesis entitled "Historical Landscapes". In the 1980s, he traveled to
Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
and continued his artistic studies at the " Accademia di Belle Arti Brera" (Brera Academy of Fine Arts) in
Milan Milan ( , , ; ) is a city in northern Italy, regional capital of Lombardy, the largest city in Italy by urban area and the List of cities in Italy, second-most-populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of nea ...


The artist has a dual
citizenship Citizenship is a membership and allegiance to a sovereign state. Though citizenship is often conflated with nationality in today's English-speaking world, international law does not usually use the term ''citizenship'' to refer to nationalit ...
, that of
Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
and the
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
. When he returned to New York, he studied two years of Latin
percussion A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a percussion mallet, beater including attached or enclosed beaters or Rattle (percussion beater), rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or ...
at the Harbour Conservatory located in " El Barrio" of
Manhattan Manhattan ( ) is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City. Coextensive with New York County, Manhattan is the County statistics of the United States#Smallest, larg ...
. Influenced by his great love of Puerto Rican culture, Broccoli Porto moved to Puerto Rico and enrolled in "La Liga de Arte" (League of Art) in
San Juan San Juan, Spanish for Saint John (disambiguation), Saint John, most commonly refers to: * San Juan, Puerto Rico * San Juan, Argentina * San Juan, Metro Manila, a highly urbanized city in the Philippines San Juan may also refer to: Places Arge ...
. He also studied for three years at "Escuela de Artes Plasticas" (School of the Plastic Arts) located in
Old San Juan Old San Juan () is a historic district located at the "northwest triangle" of the San Juan Islet, islet of San Juan in San Juan, Puerto Rico, San Juan. Its area roughly correlates to the Ballajá, Old San Juan, Ballajá, Catedral, Old San Juan, ...
. There he took art courses on painting and sculpture. Broccoli Porto had as professors Eric Lluch, an understudy of
Andy Warhol Andy Warhol (;''Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary''"Warhol" born Andrew Warhola Jr.; August 6, 1928 – February 22, 1987) was an American visual artist, film director and producer. A leading figure in the pop art movement, Warhol ...
and Master Sculptor José Garcia Campos, who would be of great influence in his metal works. Puerto Rican
music Music is the arrangement of sound to create some combination of Musical form, form, harmony, melody, rhythm, or otherwise Musical expression, expressive content. Music is generally agreed to be a cultural universal that is present in all hum ...
became an important part of his life and is reflected in his art. A large amount of his collection is made up of musical themes interpreted through the plastic arts. Professor Judy Betts (a renowned writer and Watercolorist from
Louisiana Louisiana ( ; ; ) is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It borders Texas to the west, Arkansas to the north, and Mississippi to the east. Of the 50 U.S. states, it ranks 31st in area and 25 ...
, U.S.) served as a great influence his use of blends and transparencies in
watercolour Watercolor (American English) or watercolour ( Commonwealth English; see spelling differences), also ''aquarelle'' (; from Italian diminutive of Latin 'water'), is a painting method"Watercolor may be as old as art itself, going back to the ...
paintings, for which he is well known. Broccoli Porto eventually decided to use his maternal surname, Porto, as his artist signature because of its ties to the island of Puerto Rico. Broccoli Porto was a member of The Association of Watercolorists of Puerto Rico (AAPR) for more than 8 years and served for a brief period as Vice President of that organization. He is listed with the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña (Puerto Rican Institute of Culture) as a Puerto Rican visual artist and sculptor. He is an active member of the
UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...
Artists of Puerto Rico.


Honors and awards

In June 1999, Juan Carlos Morales, director of the
Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...
version of
William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...
's ''
A Midsummer Night's Dream ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' is a Comedy (drama), comedy play written by William Shakespeare in about 1595 or 1596. The play is set in Athens, and consists of several subplots that revolve around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. One s ...
'', presented at Bellas Artes de
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico Guaynabo (, ) is a Guaynabo barrio-pueblo, city and Municipalities of Puerto Rico, municipality on the northeastern coastal plain of Puerto Rico. Located west of the capital San Juan, Puerto Rico, San Juan, east of Bayamón, Puerto Rico, Bayamà ...
, commissioned Broccoli Porto for the Caribbean Version set and costume designs. He was awarded a UNESCO Medal in December 2000. In December 2001, he won a 2nd Prize in the Graphics Category at the "El Dia Nacional del Artista Pintor Puertorriqueño" (Annual National Day of the Puerto Rican Artistic Painter). His painting, ''Madonna Saurie'', graces the cover of the novel The "Princess Papaya" by
Cuban American Cuban Americans ( or ) are Americans who immigrated from or are descended from immigrants from Cuba. As of 2023, Cuban Americans were the fourth largest Hispanic and Latino American group in the United States after Mexican Americans, Stateside ...
author, Himilce Novas, which was released on September 30, 2004, by Arte Publico Press, of the
University of Houston The University of Houston (; ) is a Public university, public research university in Houston, Texas, United States. It was established in 1927 as Houston Junior College, a coeducational institution and one of multiple junior colleges formed in ...
,
Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...
. In 2009 Porto was awarded the Brother Loftus, Alumnus of the Year for his achievements in the arts at his alma mater, Iona College, New Rohelle, NY.


Featured works

Broccol Porto's works have been featured in the following: *The set design of the International
cable television Cable television is a system of delivering television programming to consumers via radio frequency (RF) signals transmitted through coaxial cables, or in more recent systems, light pulses through fibre-optic cables. This contrasts with bro ...
show on Lifetime TV, "The Division". *In February, 2000, at the Gallery BAI, a private Gallery in The Guggenheim Museum,
Soho SoHo, short for "South of Houston Street, Houston Street", is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City. Since the 1970s, the neighborhood has been the location of many artists' lofts and art galleries, art installations such as The Wall ...
. *"El Maravilloso Mundo de la Santería", a documentary on Afro-Caribbean diaspora, by Metropolitan Films, 2000, a
Galavisión Galavisión is an American Spanish-language pay television network owned by TelevisaUnivision. The network is unrelated to the earlier Mexican channel of the same name, though both broadcast Televisa-produced programming. As of February 20 ...
presentation *The Television Documentary "Bomba y Plena de Puerto Rico" aired on
New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...
Network's "Imagines" on November 20, 2002. *The Muestra Nacional de Artes Plasticas, Instituto de la Cultura Puertorriqueña, from September to December in 2003 in the Old San Juan Princessa Museum. *His Sculptures and Paintings were exhibited in the inauguration of "Casa del Presidente" (UNITEC) for El Museo de Aguadilla y el Caribe. *"Bomba, a Celebration of Sight and Sound", on November 12, 2005, at
Montclair State University Montclair State University (MSU) is a public research university in Montclair, New Jersey, with parts of the campus extending into Clifton and into Little Falls. As of fall 2018, Montclair State was, by enrollment, the second largest public un ...
in
New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...
, in celebration of Diversity Week. *"Bomba, a Celebration of Sight and Sound", at Essex Community College in
Newark, New Jersey Newark ( , ) is the List of municipalities in New Jersey, most populous City (New Jersey), city in the U.S. state of New Jersey, the county seat of Essex County, New Jersey, Essex County, and a principal city of the New York metropolitan area. ...
. *Broccoli Porto was the ARTNOIR'S Magazine "Feature Artist of The Month". His painting "El Bombero" was acclaimed by ARTNOIR. Broccoli Porto's works were published in "''Libro de Arte Iberoamericano Contemporaneo''" (Book of Art of Contemporary LatinAmerica) an art encyclopedia of
Latin America Latin America is the cultural region of the Americas where Romance languages are predominantly spoken, primarily Spanish language, Spanish and Portuguese language, Portuguese. Latin America is defined according to cultural identity, not geogr ...
n artists published by AT Cultura of
Córdoba, Argentina Córdoba () is a city in central Argentina, in the foothills of the Punilla Valley, Sierras Chicas on the Primero River, Suquía River, about northwest of Buenos Aires. It is the capital of Córdoba Province, Argentina, Córdoba Province an ...
. In October 2009-January 2010, his one man show, Mendigando Amor Flamenco, was presented at Museo de los Pocéres, Cabo Rojo, P.R. In June 2012, Porto's one man show Bomba was presented at Rio Penthouse Gallery in New York City. Some of his works are found at: * The Puerto Rico Tourism Bureau in San Juan, Puerto Rico. * Museo del Niño (Children's Museum) in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. * R-G Premier Bank Headquarters in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico. * The Carnegie Library in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. * El Museo de Nuestra Raiz Africana (The Museum of our African Roots) in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. *
La Fortaleza La Fortaleza ( English: "the fortress"), also known as the ''Palacio de Santa Catalina'' (Saint Catherine's Palace), is the official residence and workplace of the governor of Puerto Rico. Located in the historic quarter of Old San Juan in the ...
(The Governor's Palace) San Juan, Puerto Rico. * Searle Pharmaceuticals Headquarters in
Caguas, Puerto Rico Caguas (, ) is a Caguas barrio-pueblo, city and Municipalities of Puerto Rico, municipality in central eastern Puerto Rico. Located in the eponymous Caguas Valley between the Sierra de Cayey and Sierra de Luquillo of the Cordillera Central (Puer ...
. * Executive Suites of San Juan Intercontinental Hotel, Isla Verde, Puerto Rico. * Hyatt Cerromar Dorado Hotel. * Nueva Esperanza Community Museum,
Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...
,
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...
. *
Montclair State University Montclair State University (MSU) is a public research university in Montclair, New Jersey, with parts of the campus extending into Clifton and into Little Falls. As of fall 2018, Montclair State was, by enrollment, the second largest public un ...
,
George Segal (artist) George Segal (November 26, 1924 – June 9, 2000) was an American painter and sculptor associated with the pop art movement. He was presented with the United States National Medal of Arts in 1999. Works Although Segal started his art car ...
Museum * Fundación Rafael Cepeda, Santurce Puerto Rico Amongst the notable personalities who own works of art by Broccoli Porto are: Puerto Rican actress and singer Ruth Fernández, actress and singer
Jennifer Lopez Jennifer Lynn Lopez (born July 24, 1969), also known by her nickname J.Lo, is an American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer and businesswoman. Lopez is regarded as one of the most influential entertainers of her time, credited with breaking ...
, Italian singer
Laura Pausini Laura Pausini (; born 16 May 1974) is an Italian Pop music, pop singer. She rose to fame in 1993, winning the newcomer artists' section of the Sanremo Music Festival 1993, 43rd Sanremo Music Festival with the song "La solitudine", which becam ...
, Brazilian Diva,
Gal Costa Gal Maria da Graça Costa Penna Burgos (born Maria da Graça Costa Penna Burgos; 26 September 1945 – 9 November 2022), known professionally as Gal Costa (), was a Brazilian singer of Música popular brasileira, popular music. Twelve-times Bra ...
, queen of Bosa Nova, Giorgio Starassoldo Graffenberg of Strassoldo of Italy and former Puerto Rican governor Sila M. Calderón.


Currently

Broccoli Porto together with two other Puerto Rican artists (Mariestella Colón Astacio and Estefan Gargost) were chosen as representatives of contemporary Puerto Rican art for the "Libro de Arte IberoAmericano Contemporaneo" (Book of Latin-American Contemporary Art) written by Dr. María Elena Troncoso and Ricardo Cesar Lescano Grosso . The book, which is Encyclopedic Text of Latin American Artists, was published in Cordoba, Argentina on September 14, 2005, by ATCultura publishers. Currently, Broccoli Porto has moved back to New York and lives and maintains his studio, "Art Studio Porto", in East Patchogue NY.


See also

*
List of Puerto Ricans This is a list of notable people from Puerto Rico which includes people who were born in Puerto Rico (Borinquen) and people who are of full or partial Puerto Rican people, Puerto Rican descent. Puerto Rican citizens are included, as the governm ...


Notes


References

* *


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Broccoli Porto, Antonio 1955 births Living people 20th-century American painters American male painters 21st-century American painters American people of Puerto Rican descent American people of Italian descent Iona University alumni People of Calabrian descent