 tomÃ¡s batista (born 1935) is one of puerto rico's greatest sculptors. he is the creator of some of puerto rico's most famous monuments. ==early years== batista (birth name: tomÃ¡s batista encarnaciÃ³n) was born and raised in luquillo, puerto rico, a town located in the northeastern coast of puerto rico. his family was poor but, despite the fact that his family's economic situation wasn't a good one, he did well in school and was able to finish high school. his family recognized that their son had talent as an artist at a young age. after graduating from high school, he moved to san juan to continue his education. there he met and went to work with the spanish artist, angel botello. in 1955, while working with botello, batista discovered that he had a natural talent to work with the restoration process in wood. he learned from botello the secrets of restoration and how to work with gold on wood. in 1957, he realized his first work of art, the crucifixion.http://netdial.caribe.net/~abatista/tbatista.htm tomas batista in 1958, batista was awarded a grant and studied sculptoring at the puerto rican institute of culture under the direction of the maestro compostela. batista also studied art in la escuela nacional de bellas artes la esmeralda in mexico, on a guggenheim fellowship in 1960"1960 latin american and caribbean fellows", guggenheim foundation and in the instituto de cultura hispÃ¡nica in spain. in 1966, he was named director of the department of sculpture and restoration of the puerto rican institute of culture. in 1972, batista spent a year in spain, where he created the busts of eugenio marÃ­a de hostos and ramÃ³n emeterio betances. ==sculptures== he created is monumento al jÃ­baro puertorriqueÃ±o (monument to the common puerto rican countryman) in cayey. in this monument batista reflects the humbleness and hard working nature of the typical puerto rican farmer and his family. the monument is located by the luis a. ferrÃ© highway in cayey.[http://w
1935_births Art_award_winners Escuela_Nacional_de_Pintura,_Escultura_y_Grabado_\"La_Esmeralda\"_alumni Guggenheim_Fellows Living_people People_from_Luquillo,_Puerto_Rico Puerto_Rican_sculptors