Tony Bechara, an influential Puerto Rican painter and philanthropist, passed away at 83. As chair of El Museo del Barrio, he significantly elevated the museum's profile, transforming it into a hub for Latinx and Latin American art. Bechara was not only an artist recognized for his vibrant, mosaic-like paintings but also a champion for lesser-known artists. His artistic endeavors were deeply intertwined with his cultural commitments, believing that both art-making and cultural patronage held equal importance in his life and work.
"I'm just passionate about art. My commitments to cultural institutions . . . are for me artistic projects. They are an extension of my commitment to art."
"For him, making art and elevating its presence in the world were pursuits of equivalent importance."
"Bechara drew from a wide range of influences including Post-Impressionism, pointillism, hard-edge abstraction, and basket-weaving traditions to create tightly gridded works that radiated warmth."
"As board chair of El Museo del Barrio, Tony Bechara oversaw the institution's transformation into an internationally renowned repository of Latinx and Latin American Art."
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