Omar Rayo Reyes

ÓMAR RAYO REYES (Colombia, 1928- 2010).
"Fósforos".
Silkscreen and embossing on Arches paper. Copy 4/50.
Signed and justified in pencil at the bottom.
Measurements: 72,5 x 56 cm; 76,5 x 61,5 cm (frame).
Throughout his career Omar Rayo revolutionized the world of graphic art by introducing a new technique he called Intaglio. While studying engraving in Mexico, he began to experiment with the matrix of the engraving machine itself, thus managing to print reliefs on paper. In developing this technique, he began to use Arches handmade paper, on which he applied pressure, at first with a press and later by hand, replacing the copper plates with cardboard ones. During the 60's and 70's, this type of work reached a great interest from the public and critics, largely due to the fact that only Omar Rayo and Joseph Albers mastered this technique. It is likely that this particular work is the result of his stay in Manhantan, since it was during that period, when he began to introduce through his synthetic and geometric language, consumer products.
Omar Rayo stood out as a painter, sculptor and caricaturist. He won the 1970 Colombian Artists Salon. Rayo worked abstract geometry using mainly black, white, red and yellow. He was part of the Op Art movement, using traces of the past to discover new ways of presenting visual and geometric sketches.
The Rayo Museum of Latin American Drawing and Printmaking was founded on January 20, 1981 by Rayo in his hometown of Roldanillo with funds contributed by the artist himself. The museum was also financed with the help of the Colombian government. The museum was designed by Mexican architect Leopoldo Gout and opened with a collection of 2,000 works of art by Rayo and some 500 works by other Latin American artists.