Antonio Sotomayor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Antonio Sotomayor
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Sotomayor Painting on Glass, c.1935.
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| Born | May 13, 1902 Chulumani, Bolivia
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| Died | February 10, 1985 (aged 82) San Francisco, California, U.S.
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| Other names | Tony Sotomayor |
| Alma mater | Mark Hopkins Institute of Art |
| Years active | 1923–1985 |
| Known for | Murals, Illustrations, Caricatures, Ceramics |
| Spouse(s) | Grace Andrews Sotomayor |
Antonio "Tony" Sotomayor (1902–1985) was an amazing artist and teacher from Bolivia. He moved to America and became famous for his paintings, especially large wall paintings called murals. He also drew funny pictures of people (caricatures), designed things, and made art from clay (ceramics). People in San Francisco even called him their 'Artist Laureate', which means he was a very special artist to the city!
Antonio Sotomayor's Artistic Journey
Antonio Sotomayor was born on May 13, 1902, in Chulumani, Bolivia. His parents were Celia Meza and Juan Sotomayor. He studied art at the Escuela de Bellas Artes in La Paz, learning from a Belgian artist named Adolf Lambert.
In 1923, Tony moved to San Francisco, California. He first worked as a dishwasher at the Palace Hotel. This job only lasted five days! While there, he learned English. He also started drawing funny pictures (caricatures) of his co-workers. Soon, they made him the "artist in residence" at the hotel.
In the 1930s, he painted two large murals at the Palace Hotel. These murals are in a room called “The Pied Piper.” When he first arrived, Tony wanted to be an architect. But his love for art grew stronger. He continued his art studies at the Mark Hopkins Institute of Art.
Tony Sotomayor also taught art to others. He was an art professor at Mills College from 1942 to 1943. He also taught at the California School of Fine Art from 1940 to 1950.
In 1937, he painted a mural called El Tigrero. This mural was for a house designed by Richard Neutra in Hillsborough. In 1939, he created more murals for the Peruvian Pavilion. He also made a huge clay relief map called Fountain of the Pacific Bash. This map was 36 feet by 46 feet and was for the Panama–Pacific International Exposition.
For over ten years, Tony was a part of the San Francisco Arts Commission. They gave him a special "Award of Honor" in 1978. He was very interested in religious art. In the early 1980s, Sotomayor painted a large mural with 30 panels for Grace Cathedral.
Tony Sotomayor passed away on February 10, 1985, in San Francisco. He had been battling cancer. His amazing artworks can be seen in many public museums. These include the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and the Museum of Modern Art.
His Family and Home
Antonio Sotomayor married Grace Andrews Sotomayor in 1927. They did not have any children. For forty years, they lived in the Nob Hill neighborhood of San Francisco. Their home was on Leroy Place.
