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Profile:
Alfredo Lorenzo, written & photographed by Kirk Snow
 What
is it that makes some artwork truly compelling and alive? Is it
technical skill, or is it the powerful energy of the personality
that creates it? With Alfredo Lorenzo, the wonderful exuberance
of his personality meshes with a wealth of knowledge to create magnetic,
memorable artwork. A visit to his studio is a vibrant surprise.
Tucked away in the dark masonry of the Varnum Armory, East Greenwich,
is a playful space filled with brightly colored works of art that
incorporate glimpses from a variety of influences. The rhythms of
the Brazilian and Latin music heard from his stereo add to the energy
found in Lorenzo’s artworks.
As
a result of Lorenzo’s training in architecture and landscape
architecture, there are strong elements of design in his work, which
juxtaposes natural, foliage-like shapes with hints of imagery inspired
by the Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. Lorenzo primarily considers
himself a colorist in the tradition of the German Expressionists.
His series of abstractions, entitled Palo Azul, is a tribute to
the German Blue Rider group, an important source for Lorenzo’s
work.
Central
to Lorenzo’s technique is a process of layering, adding and
scraping away material to achieve desired textural and spatial effects.
This layering process results from and reflects vivid memories of
his travels to the Dominican Republic as a child. The young artist
was impressed by walls covered with movie and political posters,
either deteriorated or destroyed to reveal layers of unintentional,
unexpected combinations of texture and color.
 Alfredo
Lorenzo holds degrees in Architecture and Landscape Architecture
form Rhode Island School of Design. Recently, he has participated
in group exhibitions at the Newport Art Museum and Virginia Lynch
Gallery. In 1999, Lorenzo exhibited in Valparaiso, Chile,
at the Chilean North American Institute. His works appear
in the collections of Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Memorial
Hospital, G-Tech Corporation, Dialysis Centers of Rhode Island,
The Rhode Island Convention Center, RISD Alumni Hall, and various
private collections through out North and South America. Lorenzo
currently works full time at his East Greenwich, Rhode Island, studio.
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