Roberto Herrera, a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, is a painter and sculptor who focuses primarily on surrealist and cubist perspectives in his work. Originally trained as an industrial engineer, Herrera was drawn into the visual arts when he found it to be his true vehicle of expression. He studied under the Argentine surrealist DiBruno, whose theories of balance, harmony and proportion are reflected in Herrera’s own artistic interpretations.
After moving to Portland, he began his ongoing exploration of cubism under the tutelage of Manuel Izquierdo, a well-known Northwest sculptor. Izquierdo’s various techniques left a lasting impression on Herrera, shaping his work in sculpture as well as expanding the scope of his painting. In addition to his two and three-dimensional work, Herrera is an accomplished muralist, having completed numerous commissions for restaurants and other commercial and private clients.
The guiding inspirations for my work have been spherical shapes, which provide softness and harmonious balance. I combine these with life-giving colors, such as earthy sienna and beige, sky blue and fiery orange. I use striking, unusual angles to represent the intersection of contrasting elements, whether they are lines, people or cultures coming together in unexpected ways.
For me, surrealism brings into visibility that which is hidden under the surface of things. I strive to give my subjects a “familiar” yet more revealing appearance, so that each individual viewer has a deep, personal recognition of what is being depicted. My art captures and gives back a segment of time from the viewer’s own life, allowing one to experience and reflect back on a special moment.