General Info
Nickname: zaplaflora
Country: United States
Bio: Jesús Torres Alfonso
Artistic Name: Zaplaflora
www.instagram.com/zaplafloraart
www.linkedin.com/in/zaplaflora
zaplaflora@gmail.com
(786) 317 9482
Resume
Publications. Attention by Press Media:
TVRadioMiami. Life interview. 01/2023.
El Nuevo Herald. Report “Zaplaflora: Spiritual Connection with Nature”. 12/04/2022.
UniVista TV. Life Interview. 11/14/2019
Radio/TV Martí. Interview by Cuban poet and writer Orlando González. 04/15/2008.
El Nuevo Herald. Report by Erwin Pérez “Zaplaflora: Con Color Ecológico”. 01/24/1998.
Art Awards and Achievements:
April 2024: The Popular Vote Award. 29th Juried Virtual Exhibition “Breaking the Rules". People & Paintings Gallery.
March 2024: The Curator´s Award. 28th Juried Virtual Exhibition “Dream and Reality”. People & Paintings Gallery.
March 2024: Golden Award with my painting “Dazzling Glowing Spring” (2022) in “Cherry Blossom” competition organized by Indonesian Green Emerald Art.
Colors Shades Art Community. Golden Art Award “Best of the Best Art”. 2024.
Art Angels France. Certificate of Appreciation. Outstanding Submission. 2024.
The Garden Mía Gallery. Certificate for High Level Artistic Fine Arts Achievement. 2024.
Brazilian Liesel Cerna Studio International Art Group. Certificate of Excellence. 2024.
International Art Group MUSING. Musing of the Month Award. 2024.
Art Angels Korea. International Certificate “Art Contributing to World Peace”. 2023.
Brazilian Liesel Cerna Studio International Art Group. Certificate of Solidarity Art. 2023.
International Art Group MUSING. Musing of the Month Award. 2023.
Association of World Artists. Juried Achievement Award “Artist of the World”. 2023.
Blue Sapphire International Art Contest Group. Special Art Award. 2023.
Tiger Eye Crystal International Art Contest Group. Special Award. 2023.
Brazilian Liesel Cerna Studio International Art Group. Popular Vote Award. First Place. “Connecting Borders with Art Masters”. 2023.
Black Purple Art Contest with Icha Rahman. Golden Art Award. 2023.
Brazilian Liesel Cerna Studio International Art Group. First Place Award. “A World of Creativity and Artistic Diversity”. 2023.
Red Ruby International Art Community. “Best of the Best Abstract”. Super Gold. 2023.
Green Emerald Art Contest International Group. Platinum Award. 2023
Yellow Sapphire International Art Community. Special Recognition Diploma .2023.
Share Poetry & Paintings. Special Gold Award. 2023.
Art Angels France. Winner of the international art contest “La Femme”. 2023.
Groupe International de Partage del Art. Gold Certificate First Place. 2023.
Brazilian Liesel Cerna Studio International Group. Diploma of Excellence. 2023.
Argentine ECIRA International Platform. Diploma de Honor. Contemporary Art Award. 2023.
International Art Group MUSING. Exciting Colorations. 2022.
ArtCertificate Spanish Group. COUP DE COEUR award in all categories. 2022.
New York People & Paintings Gallery. Popular Vote Award. 20th Juried Exhibition "A Spring Tradition". 2022.
Solo Virtual Exhibition:
Spanish International Art Group MundoArti. 3D Individual Exhibition “Zaplaflora: With Ecological Flavor”. 2022.
Physical Exhibitions:
The City of Hialeah Authorities. Miami. “Honoring the Woman”. 2024.
The City of Hialeah Authorities. Miami. “José Martí”. 2024.
Art and Culture Center. Hollywood, Florida. 2022 Florida Biennial. 2022.
“Ana G. Méndez” University Campus Florida. 2012.
Collection Privée Art Gallery. Wynwood Arts District. Miami. 2010.
Miami Chivas Regal. “Flowers”. Little Havana. Miami. 2003.
Virtual Exhibitions:
May 2nd to July 2nd 2024. XXI International Virtual Exhibition "Spring 2024". Spanish MundoArti Virtual Museum.
People & Paintings Gallery. 29th Juried Exhibition. “Breaking the Rules”. 2024
People & Paintings Gallery. 28th Juried Exhibition “Dream and Reality”. 2024.
Portuguese Atelier D´Arte de Ci Barros. “Artists for Life”. 2024.
Venezuela Aries, International Art Gallery. “The Freedom of Creativity”. 2024.
Brazilian Liesel Cerna Studio International Art Group. “Connecting Borders with Masters of Art”. 2023.
Venezuela Aries, International Art Gallery. “Chromatic Harmonies”. 2023.
Art Angels France. “The Animals”. 2023.
Venezuela Aries, International Art Gallery. “The Art of Empathy”. 2023.
Brazilian Liesel Cerna Studio International Art Group. “A World of Creativity and Artistic Diversity”. 2023.
Venezuela Aries, International Art Gallery. “Dreams of Freedom”. 2023.
Spanish International Art Group MundoArti. XVII Exhibition “Spring Season”. 2023.
Brazilian Liesel Cerna Studio International Art Group. “Beyond the Fragments”. 2023.
People & Paintings Gallery. International Gallery Storeroom Exhibition. 2022.
Spanish International Art Group MundoArti. XII International Exhibition “Spring”. 2022.
People & Paintings Gallery. 20th Juried Exhibition "A Spring Tradition". 2022.
People & Paintings Gallery. “The Best of 2022”. 2022.
Self-Employed Artist
Artist, 1997 – to present
Education: Mechanical Engineer. Havana City University. July 1984
Statement: "Being able to feel what is invisible, and being able to create it, that´s Art"; that is the way the German painter Hans Hofmann (1880-1966) defined Art. And I pride myself on perceiving what is invisible to others, and on "creating" it in my pictorial works.
My paintings are the artistic expression of my purest creation and imagination. I don't reproduce images from books, magazines or catalogues. My designs and pictorial compositions are the most authentic and free expression of my feelings, emotions and instincts. Painting ignites my emotions, triggers my instincts and gives free rein to my imagination, to create an exclusive Art, with a very personal and easily identifying style.
I don't follow rules or specific painting schools. You might assume that I “break” the rules all the time. My work is the result of praxis, of permanent innovation and of my most empirical experience. I am encouraged by one of the best-known quotes from one of the greatest artists of all time, Pablo Picasso: "Learn the rules like a professional, so you can break them like an artist." I am not saying that I am a professional at all…I am just someone who loves to create Art, that studies a lot by his own, and that tries to improve himself everyday as an artist. Every single day I wake up with a creative project in mind, and with a strong willingness to transform it into Art.
Common traits of my works are spontaneity, freshness, spirituality, mysticism and magic. However, you could find in my paintings the influence of Salvador Dalí for instance, René Magritte and Pablo Picasso, as well as of the Cuban artists Manuel Mendive, Wifredo Lam, René Portocarrero and Amelia Peláez. You might “feel” their legacy in my artworks, but I have definitely achieved a persolalized style in my artistic career of more than 50 years.
My sources of inspiration? Common threads that keep my works interconnected? Nature is the greatest artist in my paintings. Natural beauties, Nature´s fertile abundance and generosity, that interactive relationship between Men and Nature, its flora and fauna…Man's permanent search for a psychological and emotional balance in Life, and the indispensable ecological balance in the Earth.
When painting, I establish a spiritual connection with Nature, my main source of inspiration. My artistic name, Zaplaflora, tells you about the essential role Nature and its flora play in my Art.
You will find in my Artworks a rainfall of Nature colors and shapes in “perfect” harmony, but contrasting one with each other at the same time, together with the use of classic symbols. With your eyes on them, you will have the impression that those static images transmute into vibrant displays of perpetual motion; as if they, surprisingly, will come out from the canvas to stay by your side, with the magic power of inspiring, thought-provoking, healing wounded souls, and making you forget the grays of urban cities. Painting gives me many reasons to feel myself fully and spiritually rewarded in life.
What am I looking for with my paintings? What do I propose and what are my final motivations? My paintings are my key means of communication with the world. Above all, I want the public to enjoy the freedom of colors and shapes; the fresh use of classic symbols and other more innovative ones. And I want to communicate with that audience, to inspire them feelings, emotions; to unlock their instincts; to have an impact on their senses and on their consciousness; to convey concepts and life perceptions. In short, I want the viewers to feel the intensity of life while enjoying my Art.