The art of the Dominican Republic is surprisingly beautiful, but visitors must look beyond the mass-produced paintings being offered on El Conde in the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo. Exploring galleries, shops and museums in Santo Domingo is both an entertaining and learning experience that everyone will enjoy. You will discover an incredibly rich and diverse artistic culture and a comprehensive body of works that rivals any country in the Caribbean and the whole of Latin America.
The artistic culture in the Colonial Zone is readily apparent. The School of Fine Arts is located on El Conde near Parque Colon, where students can often be seen sketching and painting. Artists are often busy in the many studios throughout the Zona Colonial, or perhaps chatting at one of the cafes in the area. Art sellers, some not entirely legitimate, sell in the streets, and from galleries, and apartments. There are beautiful, original works of Dominican art available, but learn to ask about the artist and even better, visit a real gallery where the prices are still reasonable and the works are genuine.
Outside of the Colonial Zone, there are two major museums – the Museum of Modern Art and the Bellapart Museum. These museums exhibit works by the great Dominican artists and exiled European artists who painted here. A few of the most important artists are Yoryi Morel, Celeste Woss y Gil, Josep Gausachs, George Hausdorf, Vela Zanetti, Jaime Colson, Eligio Pichardo, Ramon Oviedo, Dario Suro, Clara Ledesma and Gilberto Hernandez Ortega. These artists formed the vanguard of the Modernist movement in the Dominican Republic and greatly influenced the Dominican art that followed.
Enjoy your time in the Colonial Zone, talk with the artists and visit the galleries. You won’t be disappointed!
