Oscar Velasquez (April 5, 1944-Sept. 10, 2021) was an American artist and muralist.
Personal Life and Education
Velasquez was born in Pharr, Texas , to migrant farm workers.[ 1] [ 2] Putnam County, Ohio to pick tomotoes.[ 3] Pandora-Gilboa High School , graduating in 1965. He attended Cooper School of Art in Cleveland on a scholarship. He is the brother of labor union activist Baldemar Velasquez .
Career
His first professional position was with American Greetings . He worked there for six years, where he was promoted to direct the design department. Seeking greater independence, Velasquez left for a solo career.
Awards and recognition
Velasquez was a member of the American Watercolor Society . He received the following awards:
1973-1974 - Mary S Litt medal
1976 - High Winds medal
1978 - national juror
1981 - Dolphin Fellowship
Collections
His art is in the following collections:
Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, NebraskaErskine College in Due West, South CarolinaThe Henry Ward Ranger Fund , New YorkThe Opera House , Abbeville, South CarolinaSelf Memorial Hospital , Greenwood, South CarolinaFarm Labor Organizing Committee , ToledoThe Lion and the Lamb Peace Arts Center, Bluffton University , Bluffton, Ohio
Murals
1991 - Iva, South Carolina - "Iva Depot"[ 3] [ 4] [ 5]
1991 - Pandora, Ohio [ 6]
1994 - Subotica, Serbia [ 3]
1995 - Bluffton, Ohio - "A World of Youth, Hope and Peace"[ 7]
1995 - Delphos, Ohio - "Early Days of the Miami Erie Canal"[ 8] [ 9] 40°50′47″N 84°20′23″W / 40.84649803613644°N 84.33973231807136°W / 40.84649803613644; -84.33973231807136
2007 - Toledo, Ohio - "Our Lady of Guadalupe"[ 10] [ 11] 41°38′20″N 83°32′54″W / 41.638807953099054°N 83.54845915602219°W / 41.638807953099054; -83.54845915602219
2007 - Findlay, Ohio - "Veteran's Memorial"[ 3] 41°02′39″N 83°39′02″W / 41.044224°N 83.650465°W / 41.044224; -83.650465
2009 - Leipsic, Ohio [ 12]
2009 - Ottawa, Ohio - "Celebration of Progress"[ 13] [ 14] 41°01′10″N 84°02′50″W / 41.019370135843246°N 84.04721021854309°W / 41.019370135843246; -84.04721021854309
2010 - Bluffton, Ohio - "Main Street"[ 15]
2011 - Miller City, Ohio [ 16]
2012 - Kalida, Ohio - "Pioneer Days"[ 17] [ 18] 40°58′54″N 84°12′06″W / 40.981666°N 84.201536°W / 40.981666; -84.201536
2014 - Findlay, Ohio - "We Are Findlay"[ 3] [ 19]
2014 - Columbus Grove, Ohio - "St. Anthony Walking"[ 20]
2015 - Findlay, Ohio - "Dark Side of the Moon"[ 21] [ 3]
2015 - Findlay, Ohio - "Starry Night"[ 22]
2016 - Macedonia, Ohio - "Longwood Lake"[ 3] [ 23]
2017 - Pandora, Ohio - "Riley Creek"[ 24]
2018 - Twinsburg, Ohio [ 25]
2019 - Independence, Ohio [ 6]
References
^ "Oscar Velasquez" . The Courier . The Courier. Sep 20, 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2024 .^ Hohman, Darin. "Oscar Velasquez - Maker of Murals" . youtube.com . Dark Horse Productions. Retrieved 11 January 2025 . ^ a b c d e f g Marotta, Eric (July 13, 2016). "Muralist Oscar Velasquez looks for walls to transform in Macedonia" . Akron Beacon Journal . Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved 27 December 2024 . ^ "Iva Depot Mural" . exploresc.org . Retrieved 27 December 2024 .^ "Old Iva Depot Mural" . hmdb.org . Retrieved 27 December 2024 .^ a b Peterson, Erica (Jun 19, 2019). "Historic mural is first step toward revitalizing downtown Independence" . Independence Today . ScripType Publishing Inc. Retrieved 27 December 2024 . ^ "Art on campus" . bluffton.edu . Bluffton University. Retrieved 12 January 2025 .^ "Velasquez gives mural a touch up" . Delphos Herald . August 27, 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2025 .^ "A Day in Van Wert & Delphos Ohio" . ohiobucketlist.com . Retrieved 10 January 2025 .^ Smith, Jeffrey. "Catholic Architecture and History of Toledo, Ohio" . catholictoledo.blogspot.com . Retrieved 12 January 2025 . ^ "NFWM's Board Meeting & FLOC Convention" . nfwm.org . Retrieved 12 January 2025 .^ "OH Leipsic - Mural" . flickr.com . Retrieved 10 January 2025 .^ Thibaut, Ray. "Ottawa Celebration of Progress" . flickr.com . Retrieved 10 January 2025 . ^ Wiley Wolf, Jeannie (February 28, 2023). "Ottawa artist completes agriculture mural" . The Courier . Retrieved 16 January 2025 . ^ Arnold, Austin (April 14, 2010). "Pardon me boy, is that the Bluffton choo-choo?" . The Bluffton Icon . Bluffton Icon Media LLC. Retrieved 27 December 2024 . ^ Prince, Darlene (October 3, 2011). "Velasquez painting life in northwest Ohio" . The Crescent News . Retrieved 12 January 2025 . ^ "Velasquez mural complete" . hometownstations.com . WLIO. Retrieved 27 December 2024 .^ "Pioneer Days Mural" . hmdb.org . Retrieved 27 December 2024 .^ "Mural Celebrates University and Community Partnership" . findlay.edu . U Findlay. Retrieved 27 December 2024 .^ "St. Anthony School Mural Complete" . hometownstations.com . Retrieved 10 January 2025 .^ "Dark Side of the Moon Mural" . visitfindlay.com . Retrieved 27 December 2024 .^ "Starry Night mural" . visitfindlay.com . Retrieved 12 January 2025 .^ "Muralist Oscar Velasquez" . youtube.com . Northfield News Leader. Retrieved 12 January 2025 .^ "Artist working on new mural in Pandora" . hometownstations.com . WLIO. July 24, 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2024 .^ Freeman, Laura. "Twinsburg mural memorializes military history" . beaconjournal.com . Retrieved 27 December 2024 .