Alex Espalter-Torres comes from a long line of artists, including paternal ancestor Joaquim Espalter, a well-known portraitist in 18th century Spain. The son of Cuban immigrants, Torres was born in Weehawken, New Jersey and relocated with his family to Tampa in 1980. In a nod to his heritage, he maintains his studio in a refurbished cigar factory in west Tampa, drawing inspiration from the wealth of history in the building.
Torres says that art “is the language of the human spirit; it is shared history, culture and experience.” While always being drawn to painting and sculpture, Torres did not pursue art seriously until he entered college, where art, history and the humanities came together. “I believe sharing experiences and ideas is essential to be fully engaged in the world.”
Torres attended the Ybor School of Visual and Performing Arts, where he experimented with fiberglass sculpture and mixed media works using scrap metal. Twice his paintings and drawings won the best in show award in Annual Juried Student Fine Art Exhibitions. Torres continued his education at the University of South Florida, majoring in art history. His work was influenced by a wide gamut of artists; from Salvador Dali to Joseph William Turner. Today, Torres works in two distinct styles - figurative drawings utilizing graphite and pencil, and abstract oil paintings and pastel drawings. His oils and pastels are color fields, often evoking landscapes and covered with horizontal blocks of color that blend into each other. They pay clear homage to one of his inspirations, painter Mark Rothko.
Torres’ current series, “Cuna” strains the visual boundaries of landscape painting by animating space and time. Using simple composition and an incandescent, luminous pallet, the viewer is taken on a mythological journey. These fantastic other-worlds, that are somehow so familiar, create an intense, unity-provoking meditation: a spiritual kinship with the sublime.