Jorge Blanco is an Venezuelan-American artist, born in Caracas in 1945. While still in high school, he first comes across the art world and it was the French abstract painter Auguste Herbin’s geometric shapes and colors that inspire Blanco to pursue art.

Although his studies were in Industrial Design at the Neumann Institute of Design in Caracas, (Class of 1971) an apparent influence in his work today, most of his professors were artists themselves. One professor in particular, Cornelis Zitman, inspires him to further his studies in fine arts and it wasn’t until the mid-1970s that Blanco enrolls in the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome, Italy.

Blanco’s early stages as a sculptor brought on realistic, dark and intense works of art, portraying repression, torture and oppression. It is in his next phase that he blossoms and his true self is exposed. While in Italy Jorge worked in his sculpture and drawings, but made his living by drawing political cartoons for various newspapers and magazines. Blanco left Rome in 1979 for Venezuela. He had been offered to illustrate a newspaper for children in Caracas and while in Italy he had already developed an idea for a comic strip, which he would soon publish.

In 1980 “The Castaway” is born and becomes a success almost overnight, with sales in merchandising, books (7) and even crossing over to television. It was published in major newspapers and magazines in Venezuela. About this time, he is hired as the art director for the Children’s Museum of Caracas (Science, Art & Technology), which only delays his total dedication to sculpture. With the hit “Castaway” and the job at the museum, Blanco is engulfed in Caracas, reluctantly putting aside his passion: sculpting. In the early 1990s the sculptor Jorge Blanco is back now with a much lighter, humorous and colorful tone. His work portrays “the beauty” he says, “in the world, the love he felt for his wife, daughter, his happiness” and was clearly influenced by the “Castaway," as well as the work he had done at the Children’s Museum.

In 1996 Blanco installs 4 sculptures in Tokyo, Japan; 3 were a special commission of the Contemporary Sculpture Centre and the other one stands in the Azabu Juban district. 1997 brings “Marathon” to Caracas, a piece composed of 3 sculptures installed on the median of a vital motorway of the city. With these projects, Blanco discovers his true passion for public art and redirects his work to further contribute to the development of culture in our communities, while making art accessible to all.

Since 1999 he lives and works in the West Coast of Florida. Jorge was highlighted by Florida International Magazine, as one of the creative individuals that help make Florida a destination with unlimited potential. His endeavors in public art continue strong with 13 sculptures successfully installed in 9 cities across the United States and most recently in Uruguay.

For the past 36 years, Blanco has developed distinguished careers as a sculptor, graphic designer, humorist and illustrator. “The Castaway” will forever remain in the hearts of those fortunate to laugh with him, but above all, it is through his strength as a sculptor that Blanco has left a mark gracing our open spaces with his humor, color and geometric form, reminding us all that art can both delight and amuse our lives.

Contact Jorge or join his mailing list here.