The images and information presented below are for the instruction of students and scholarly research.
Luis Martinez Pedro
(1910-1985)
Dark, gritty, and full
of beautiful Cuban imagery, Luis Martinez Pedro was a
highly accomplished Abstract Expressionist artist.
Schooled at San Alejandro, Pedro also studied in New
York in 1932. He eventually moved to New Orleans where
he ended up living for many years. There, Pedro also
studied, and the Creole community in New Orleans quite
obviously influenced his oeuvre.
Like fellow Cuban artist Rene Portocarrero, Pedro often
used the rooster in his compositions. A symbol of power
as well as a familiar symbol in both Cuban and Creole
cultures, roosters became a dominant and colorful symbol
in his work. Sometimes Pedro portrayed roosters in mixed
media in a realistic fashion, other times in vibrantly
colored Abstract like “El Gallo” (1949).
El Gallo
Unlike many artists of
his day, Pedro would typically used mixed media’s to
create his compositions: gouache, ink, charcoal, crayon,
watercolors and more. Rarely did he use oil paints. This
gives his work a very gritty and earthy look.
Along with his Abstract and Expressionist compositions,
Pedro also used Cubist styling in some of his ink
drawings. He would also portray Cuban people in groups,
relaying a social message. “Trabajadores” (1936) in
particular featuring workers with their fists raised
high is hued in “Lapiz Sanguine” or red crayon or pencil
for a blood-like effect.
Trabajdores
Along with being an
artist, Pedro also worked for the advertising agency
Mestre and Company in 1935. His work was exhibited all
over the United States during his lifetime, from New
Orleans to Tampa and New York, and all over South
America as well. It is likely that some of his
advertising work still exists today, unauthenticated,
and his travels made it likely that his work is
privately owned outside of Cuba.
