“La obra de Amador es un privilegio visual, tan inefable como tocar el cielo con las pupilas.”
Josevelio Rodríguez-Abreu
Osvaldo Calixto Amador was born in Habana, Cuba. He arrived in Miami, Florida at nine months, with his mother and older sister while his father was unable to leave the island due to political intervention. His childhood was often a difficult one. He was raised by a single mother and came to know his father at the age of fifteen, when his dad arrived at the Mariel boat lift. His father died shortly after. Nevertheless, Calixto got to embrace the man and know what it was like to have a father, even if for a short while.
Calixto earned a Master’s Degree in Social Studies with a Bachelor's in History. He was accepted to a doctoral program in Psychology. However, he chose to end his educational career as his satisfaction was to continue painting to express himself, as he had done since childhood. While at the University, Calixto took a couple of courses in painting and drawing, where he earned excellent grades and praise from his teacher. Having said this, Calixto has never officially been a student of any art teacher. In his words, “I have always felt the need to create and God is my ultimate inspiration. I love abstraction because of its spontaneity and the faith I exercise while facing a blank canvas.” Calixto’s unique perspective, his window to the world, stems directly from this childhood.
His inspiration comes from his journey towards the light. In his paintings, dark versus light represents the transgression from the mundane towards our inner sanctum.
Calixto, who is an adamant fan of Jung's study of the unconscious and its symbols, was raised a Catholic. For Calixto, the symbol of the cross is used as a medium to explore the higher power.
His paintings are carved like a wood sculptor carves his block of timber. He enjoys using all the natural elements such as water and fire directly on the canvas. This exploration of colors and textures applied with earthly elements creates the unique textures and colors that give such intensity to his work. A journey into the unconscious has often allowed Calixto to transgress the inevitable trials innate in our human existence.
His young adult years were dedicated to the exploration and wisdom offered by the many different religions of the world. Not adhering to any one of them, he has lost the need to define or to question.
Like his art, Calixto has learned that the spirit is impossible to describe.
Calixto believes that art is an expression of the soul. His soul is only a speck in the universal Oneness that is too grand to define. This commonality, this universe, is something that in Calixto’s view can only be felt. And it is this feeling, he believes, that leads to a sense of knowing. He paints to heal his spirit and give to the collective unconscious a piece of his inner light.
He currently resides in the city of Coral Gables in a small cottage, that is surrounded by lush vegetation and his beloved dogs and birds. It is in this refuge that he finds the space to let the unconscious roam free.
“If we have learned anything at all from the Source, it is that it allows us to create or destroy, I choose to create.”
Osvaldo Calixto Amador