Ramon Oviedo

Dominican, 1924-2015

Born in Barahona on February 7, 1924, Ramón Oviedo emerged from modest beginnings. He helped in a photoengraving workshop as a child and later worked in advertising, cartography, and print design before devoting himself fully to painting. His formal training was limited, but he was a prodigous observer, visiting museums, attending exhibitions, and experimenting with color. He developed a distinctive style that combines strong abstraction with symbolic and figurative elements. Oviedo’s work grapples with themes of history, politics, identity, and mortality: among his most acclaimed paintings is 24 de Abril, created in the midst of political upheaval, and later large scale murals such as Mamamérica, located at the headquarters of the Organization of American States in Washington, and Cultura Petrificada at UNESCO in Paris.

Throughout his career, Oviedo participated in national and international biennials, including Sao Paulo and Santo Domingo, and his work was collected by museums and public institutions in Latin America, North America, and Europe. He received major honors in the Dominican Republic, among them being declared Maestro Ilustre de la Pintura Dominicana by Congress, and was awarded the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella. Oviedo passed away in Santo Domingo on July 12, 2015, leaving a legacy as one of the most important figures in Latin American twentieth‑century art.