General Info
Nickname: zaplaflora
Country: United States
Bio: Jesús Torres Alfonso
Artistic Name: Zaplaflora
1327 W 39 Place
Hialeah, Miami, FL 33012
www.instagram.com/zaplafloraart
www.linkedin.com/in/zaplaflora
zaplaflora@gmail.com
(786) 317 9482
Resume
REVIEWS ABOUT ZAPLAFLORA´S ART
Ylva Rouse, curator of Contemporary Art Museum (MOCA) in Jacksonville, Florida, USA, and member of the Jury in the 2022 Florida Biennial, asked about Zaplaflora´s Art by the journal “El Nuevo Herald” in November 2022, explained: “I had the pleasure of selecting Zaplaflora's work for its colorful and enigmatic canvases, which are framed in Magical Realism, as a way to bring us closer to understanding our connection to nature and its inherent mysterious and ultimately existential quality…Zaplaflora's work is one of the ways in which today's artists attempt to express the need to redefine our relationship with nature, drawing a parallel with the internal components of life”.
Mara Cipriano, an international art curator known for critical reviews in written, video, and Spotify formats, who collaborate with M.A.D.S. Art Gallery, wrote in March 2024: “I would like to congratulate you on your extraordinary talent in surpassing the limits of reality through your art. Your works are a testament to your incredible creativity and artistic sensitivity. You have a mastery that goes well beyond mere representation. Your paintings convey a sense of warmth and human connection that is truly touching. The masterful use of color, light, and composition in your works allows you to transport the viewer into rich inner worlds full of emotions and meaning. What strikes me most about your work is your ability to go beyond the apparent reality and transform subjects into extraordinary manifestations of beauty and poetry”.
Verónica Egui Brito, journalist of El Nuevo Herald, wrote in November 2022: “Since arriving in Miami more than 25 years ago, Zaplaflora has evolved as an artist, with surrealist paintings of nature that are thought-provoking, spiritually…His works, mainly focused on painting with acrylic and metallic acrylic, are thought-provoking, and are both, expressive and sensual. Its bright colors and ornate patterns evoke emotions, while viewers are encouraged to decipher symbols and shapes”.
A French art collector, who purchased two of my paintings in February 2022, sent me a letter: “Jesús, I have just received these two magnificent paintings that you have lovingly dedicated to our precious nature. It´s with emotions and heart filled with joy that I can contemplate these masterpieces that are of breathtaking beauty. You have imbued yourself with such details, beautiful reliefs, colors and symbols that these paintings are full of magic and love. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for these sumptuous gifts”.
Publications. Attention by Press Media:
TVRadioMiami. Life interview. 01/2023.
El Nuevo Herald. Report “Zaplaflora: Spiritual Connection with Nature”. 12/04/2022.
UniVista TV. Life Interview. 11/14/2019
Radio/TV Martí. Interview by Cuban poet and writer Orlando González. 04/15/2008.
El Nuevo Herald. Report by Erwin Pérez “Zaplaflora: Con Color Ecológico”. 01/24/1998.
Art Awards and Achievements:
December 2024: Contemporary Art Silver Award. Argentina ECIRA International. Painting: “Sun and Flowers of My Sunrise” (2024).
December 2024: Artist of the Year Award. Indonesian Green Emerald Art Contest.
October 2024: Popular Vote Award, 32 Juried International Virtual Exhibition “Sunrises and Sunsets”. New York People and Paintings Gallery (PPG). Painting “Suns and Flowers of My Sunrise” (2024).
September 2024: Popular Vote Award. 31 Juried International Virtual Exhibition “Art of Faces: Portraits”. PPG. Painting “Two of the Many Faces of Love” (2024).
May 2024: Popular Vote Award. 30th Juried International Virtual Exhibition “Branches and Roots”. PPG. Painting: “Mystical Identity” (2024).
May 2024: Outstanding Artwork Award. International Virtual Exhibition “Vibrant Fragments”. Venezuela Aries, Virtual Gallery. Painting “Now And Then” (2024).
April 2024: Popular Vote Award. 29th Juried Virtual Exhibition “Breaking the Rules”. People & Paintings Gallery. Painting: “Octopus´s Garden” (2024).
March 2024: Curator´s Award. 28th Juried International Virtual Exhibition “Dream and Reality”. People & Paintings Gallery. Painting: “Now and Then” (2024).
March 2024: Golden Award with my painting “Dazzling Glowing Spring” (2022) in “Cherry Blossom” competition organized by Indonesian Green Emerald Art.
Colors Shades Art Community. Golden Art Award “Best of the Best Art”. 2024.
Art Angels France. Certificate of Appreciation. Outstanding Submission. 2024.
The Garden Mía Gallery. Certificate for High Level Artistic Fine Arts Achievement. 2024.
Brazilian Liesel Cerna Studio International Art Group. Certificate of Excellence. 2024.
International Art Group MUSING. Musing of the Month Award. 2024.
Art Angels Korea. International Certificate “Art Contributing to World Peace”. 2023.
Brazilian Liesel Cerna Studio International Art Group. Certificate of Solidarity Art. 2023.
International Art Group MUSING. Musing of the Month Award. 2023.
Association of World Artists. Juried Achievement Award “Artist of the World”. 2023.
Blue Sapphire International Art Contest Group. Special Art Award. 2023.
Tiger Eye Crystal International Art Contest Group. Special Award. 2023.
Brazilian Liesel Cerna Studio International Art Group. Popular Vote Award. First Place. “Connecting Borders with Art Masters”. 2023.
Black Purple Art Contest with Icha Rahman. Golden Art Award. 2023.
Brazilian Liesel Cerna Studio International Art Group. First Place Award. “A World of Creativity and Artistic Diversity”. 2023.
Red Ruby International Art Community. “Best of the Best Abstract”. Super Gold. 2023.
Green Emerald Art Contest International Group. Platinum Award. 2023
Yellow Sapphire International Art Community. Special Recognition Diploma .2023.
Share Poetry & Paintings. Special Gold Award. 2023.
Art Angels France. Winner of the international art contest “La Femme”. 2023.
Groupe International de Partage del Art. Gold Certificate First Place. 2023.
Brazilian Liesel Cerna Studio International Group. Diploma of Excellence. 2023.
Argentine ECIRA International Platform. Diploma de Honor. 2023.
International Art Group MUSING. Exciting Colorations. 2022.
ArtCertificate Spanish Group. COUP DE COEUR award in all categories. 2022.
New York People & Paintings Gallery. Popular Vote Award. 20th Juried Exhibition "A Spring Tradition". 2022.
Solo Exhibitions:
November 2024: Online Solo Exhibition “Zaplaflora Art” hosted by Mexican Art Ikonte.
New York People and Paintings Gallery. “Zaplaflora: Reflections of the Artist”. 2024.
Spanish Art Group MundoArti. 3D Individual Exhibition “Zaplaflora: With Ecological Flavor”. 2022.
Physical Exhibitions:
The City of Hialeah Council. Miami. “José Martí”. 01/24 to 02/21/2025.
Punto de Encuentro.Miami.”Interioridades”. 11/14 to 12/12/2024.
The City of Hialeah Council. Miami. “La Mano Hispana 2024”.
Miami Futurama Art Gallery. “Café con Arte”. 2024.
The City of Hialeah Council. Miami. “Honoring the Woman”. 2024.
The City of Hialeah Council. Miami. “José Martí”. 2024.
Art and Culture Center. Hollywood, Florida. 2022 Florida Biennial. 2022.
“Ana G. Méndez” University Campus Florida. 2012.
Collection Privée Art Gallery. Wynwood Arts District. Miami. 2010.
Miami Chivas Regal. “Flowers”. Little Havana. Miami. 2003.
Virtual International Exhibitions:
Curator of the 34th Juried International Exhibition “Poems and Music Lyrics, Inspiration to Virtual Artists”. Hosted by New York People and Paintings Gallery. February 2025.
Venezuela Aries Virtual Art Gallery. “Parallel Universes”. January 2025.
Mexican Art Ikonte. “Ignition Art”. January 2025.
Venezuela Aries Virtual Art Gallery. “Echoes of the Soul”. December 2024.
Argentina ECIRA International. “Quinquenal 16”. December 2024.
Venezuela Aries Virtual Art Gallery. “Brightness”. October 2024.
Venezuela Aries Virtual Art Gallery. “Art, Culture and Folklore”. August 2024.
Brazil Liesel Cerna Studio. “Artists of the World in Convergence”. June 2024
New York People & Paintings Gallery. 30th Juried Exhibition. “Branches and Roots”. 2024
Venezuela Aries, Virtual Gallery. “Vibrant Fragments”. Painting “Now And Then”. 2024.
New York People & Paintings Gallery. 29th Juried Exhibition. “Breaking the Rules”. 2024
New York People & Paintings Gallery. 28th Juried Exhibition “Dream and Reality”. 2024.
Spanish International Art Group MundoArti. XXI International Virtual Museum. 2024.
Portuguese Atelier D´Arte de Ci Barros. “Artists for Life”. 2024.
Venezuela Aries, International Art Gallery. “The Freedom of Creativity”. 2024.
Liesel Cerna Studio Art Group. “Connecting Borders with Art Masters”. 2023.
Venezuela Aries, International Art Gallery. “Chromatic Harmonies”. 2023.
Art Angels France. “The Animals”. 2023.
Venezuela Aries, International Art Gallery. “The Art of Empathy”. 2023.
Brazil Liesel Cerna Studio Art Group. “A World of Creativity and Artistic Diversity”. 2023.
Venezuela Aries, International Art Gallery. “Dreams of Freedom”. 2023.
Spanish International Art Group MundoArti. XVII Exhibition “Spring Season”. 2023.
Brazil Liesel Cerna Studio International Art Group. “Beyond the Fragments”. 2023.
New York People & Paintings Gallery. International Gallery Storeroom Exhibition. 2022.
Spanish International Art Group MundoArti. XII International Exhibition “Spring”. 2022.
New York People & Paintings Gallery. 20th Juried Exhibition "A Spring Tradition". 2022.
New York People & Paintings Gallery. “The Best of 2022”. 2022.
February 2025
Statement: "Being able to feel what is invisible, and being able to create it, that´s Art"; that is the way the German painter Hans Hofmann (1880-1966) defined Art. And I pride myself on perceiving what is invisible to others, and on "creating" it in my pictorial works.
My paintings are the artistic expression of my purest creation and imagination. I don't reproduce images from books, magazines or catalogues. My designs and pictorial compositions are the most authentic and free expression of my feelings, emotions and instincts. Painting ignites my emotions, triggers my instincts and gives free rein to my imagination, to create an exclusive Art, with a very personal and easily identifying style.
I don't follow rules or specific painting schools. You might assume that I “break” the rules all the time. My work is the result of praxis, of permanent innovation and of my most empirical experience. I am encouraged by one of the best-known quotes from one of the greatest artists of all time, Pablo Picasso: "Learn the rules like a professional, so you can break them like an artist." I am not saying that I am a professional at all…I am just someone who loves to create Art, that studies a lot by his own, and that tries to improve himself everyday as an artist. Every single day I wake up with a creative project in mind, and with a strong willingness to transform it into Art.
Common traits of my works are spontaneity, freshness, spirituality, mysticism and magic. However, you could find in my paintings the influence of Salvador Dalí for instance, René Magritte and Pablo Picasso, as well as of the Cuban artists Manuel Mendive, Wifredo Lam, René Portocarrero and Amelia Peláez. You might “feel” their legacy in my artworks, but I have definitely achieved a persolalized style in my artistic career of more than 50 years.
My sources of inspiration? Common threads that keep my works interconnected? Nature is the greatest artist in my paintings. Natural beauties, Nature´s fertile abundance and generosity, that interactive relationship between Men and Nature, its flora and fauna…Man's permanent search for a psychological and emotional balance in Life, and the indispensable ecological balance in the Earth.
When painting, I establish a spiritual connection with Nature, my main source of inspiration. My artistic name, Zaplaflora, tells you about the essential role Nature and its flora play in my Art.
You will find in my Artworks a rainfall of Nature colors and shapes in “perfect” harmony, but contrasting one with each other at the same time, together with the use of classic symbols. With your eyes on them, you will have the impression that those static images transmute into vibrant displays of perpetual motion; as if they, surprisingly, will come out from the canvas to stay by your side, with the magic power of inspiring, thought-provoking, healing wounded souls, and making you forget the grays of urban cities. Painting gives me many reasons to feel myself fully and spiritually rewarded in life.
What am I looking for with my paintings? What do I propose and what are my final motivations? My paintings are my key means of communication with the world. Above all, I want the public to enjoy the freedom of colors and shapes; the fresh use of classic symbols and other more innovative ones. And I want to communicate with that audience, to inspire them feelings, emotions; to unlock their instincts; to have an impact on their senses and on their consciousness; to convey concepts and life perceptions. In short, I want the viewers to feel the intensity of life while enjoying my Art.