Review of the Botello Art Gallery in Old San Juan

At 208 Cristo Street in Old San Juan, in a 350-year-old Spanish Building, Galería Botello is an oasis of cool, a haven for art-lovers, and a showcases of some of the the finest and most recognized artists you'll find on the island. In a beautiful interior, Galería Botello displays paintings, sculptures, ceramics and a fantastic collection of antique carved Santos, or hand-carved wooden figurines of saints. In particular, the works of sculptor and painter Angel Botello are prominently featured, and merit one's attention and appreciation. Call 787-723-9987 for more information.

The distinctive bronze sculptures of Angel Botello can be found all over the island, and they're among my favorite pieces at the gallery. A native of a small Spanish city called Cangas de Morrazo, Botello grew up in Spain and France, serving as a cartographer for the army during the Spanish Civil War in 1936. He spent much of the 1940s in the Caribbean, moving to Puerto Rico in the 1950s. He opened his first gallery in the Caribe Hilton in 1953.

The subject of his sculptures are often his beloved children, and the simple beauty and expressions in them communicate a wonderful innocence and grace.

A visit to Galería Botello is a visit to Angel Botello's home and his muse. From his bronze sculptures, oils, lithographs and linocuts, to an eclectic mix of local, regional and international artists, you'll find great diversity here, in a lovely interior that retains its colonial roots. The gallery focuses on modern art, but also features an excellent collection of rare Santos that showcase this art form at its finest.

Among the more well-known Puerto Rican artists you can often find here are works by Myrna Baez, Lorenzo Homar, Cecilio Colon, and Nestor Oterro. But for me, the charm of this place comes from the evocative bronze sculptures of its namesake, and his brightly colored paintings, which evoke the tropical hues of the Caribbean. For good reason was Botello once dubbed the "Caribbean Gauguin."

This is my favorite gallery in Puerto Rico, and certainly a tribute to one of its finest artists. Even if you're window-shopping in flip flops for tshirts on bustling Cristo Street on a sweltering summer day, I recommend stepping inside this cool, serene and beautiful oasis for a look at one man's unique style and talent.