Mujer con Velo

Virgilio Trómpiz

Born in January 5, 1927 in Coro, Falcón state. From 1940 to 1945 studied at the Escuela de Artes Plásticas y Aplicadas In Caracas, between 1942 and 1947 performed exhibitions at the Venezuelan Art Annual Official Hall, dedicated to younger students in that school. In 1945 completes two fresh painted murals on the school’s wall, these murals were destroyed during the rebuilding process of the Institute, under the management of Francisco Narváez.

In 1946, as a draftsman working for the roads section of the Ministerio de Obras Públicas, draws the road Bejuma-Canoabo. In 1948 is one of the Taller Libre de Arte founder members. That same year works as drawer for tricolor magazine, until 1970. In 1954 travels to Italy, France and stays some months in Spain. Form 1959 to 1972, teaches engraving and painting at the Escuela de Artes Plásticas y Aplicadas Cristobal Rojas. In 1966 performs drawings for the work ‘Caracas 400 Años’. Used next year for music album covers one of those covers is his work ‘Velada Musical Durante la Colonia’. In 1979 the Corporacion Venezolana de Guayana, a Government Institution, along with the Durban Gallery edits the book ‘Trómpiz’. As a pupil at the school, the first experienced influences of Braque and Picasso, but the did not followed the abstractionism path as his other fellows did (Manaure, Navarro, Guevara Moreno,…). He showed predilection for female figures in curtain and carpet scenarios as Poleo did in his last era. In his last years Trómpiz developed a more sensual and colorful style with great chiaroscuro contrast and reaching Reveron’s luminosity, but only related to female figures.