Background
Rayo was born in Roldanillo, Valle del Cauca, Colombia, on January 20, 1928.
Omar Rayo presenting his artwork.
Young Omar Rayo.
Omar Rayo in his youth.
Omar Rayo with his painting.
Omar Rayo with his works.
Rayo was born in Roldanillo, Valle del Cauca, Colombia, on January 20, 1928.
Omar Rayo studied drawing at the Academy Zier of Buenos Aires.
Rayo's particular focus was Op Art, a style which employs optical illusions that interact with viewers. In addition to common black-and-white colours, Omar Rayo was also known to use red, yellow and some other colours.
The 1960s were an extremely prolific decade for Rayo, and during this time the National Museum presented his Sin Sombra (Without Shading) series of abstract paintings, which feature flat colours and asymmetrical compositions.
One of their most eminent Omar Rayo's exhibitions was the one carried out in the National Room of the Museum of the Palace of fine arts of Mexico, entitled 20 years, 100 works: Omar Rayo. The 1981 saw the foundation of the Museo Rayo de Dibujo y Grabado Latinoamericano, established by Omar Rayo. The museum was also funded by the Colombian government and some other sponsors so that the site would remain a permanent exhibit of his works during the late 1980s. The museum was designed by Mexican architect Leopoldo Gout. It was opened with a collection of 2,000 of Rayo's artwork and some 500 other Latin American artists' paintings. The museum featured a library, theater, and graphic arts workshop.
For most of his career, the artist supported and tried to publicize Latin artists. Some of Rayo's more famous works include Sin Titulo, Xumux, and Gohei V. His works are a mix of colour and illusion. They force people to look beyond the image for a deeper meaning.
In addition to the Museum de Rayo de Dibujo y Grabado Latinoamericano, Omar Rayo's paintings were displayed at the National Room of the Museum of the Palace of Fine Arts of Mexico, as well as many other galleries and museums throughout the world.
Untitled (Mountains)
Gohei V
Untitled
Sararas XX
Panche I
Kumo XV
Witoto
Mur-Mur
Scarlatti's Garden
Tibacuy
Anoz Amazona
Omelemo II
9-Soles
O.V.N.I.
Clandestine Game XI
Ibawabi
Saratoy III
Palindrome 10
Saphan
Tatuyo II
Nitibus
My Size
Nudobila IX
Folded paper
Mayoyam III
Narabruz VI
Mullida huella del viento XXXIII
Acid-Wave
Botanic Garden
Divertimento 2
Ola-Zen I
Simulacro en río
Narabruz XXII
Nudo de Agua III
Untitled
Imillas
Embrión de dragón XX
Quotations: "In my works I use the red and black as dominant colours. The red colour was used by Pre-Columbian tribes in the same manner as we use black in the contemporary western culture. I found the red colour in the shadows and used it as black."