Luis Borrero is a Puerto Rican artist whose work combines the language of contemporary figurative painting with an ongoing investigation into the materials and techniques of the Old Masters.

Borrero graduated from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 1999. During his third year at the Academy, he was awarded the prestigious William Emlen Cresson Memorial Travel Scholarship, which allowed him to travel throughout Europe and study firsthand the paintings, drawings, and artistic traditions that would have a lasting influence on his work. This experience became instrumental in his pursuit of historical painting methods and fostered an enduring interest in the materials and technical processes of European painting.

In 2005, Borrero continued his technical studies in New York City, studying historical pigments under the guidance of Peter Trubig. His research into traditional supports, pigments, grounds, and painting methods has since become an integral part of his studio practice, informing a body of work that brings historical processes into dialogue with contemporary figurative painting.

Borrero has received several grants and awards throughout his career, including support from the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation in Montreal, Canada, and the Constance Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts in Ithaca, New York. In 2007, his work was exhibited at the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico as part of the Reyes Veray Collection, an exhibition accompanied by a comprehensive publication documenting artists represented in the collection.

His work draws from both contemporary figurative art and the dramatic visual language of early Baroque painting while maintaining a distinctly personal approach to portraiture, narrative, and the human figure. Borrero was awarded Best in Show at the Salmagundi Club Non Members Exhibition, held at Denise Bibro Fine Art in Chelsea, New York. His paintings and drawings have been exhibited in Puerto Rico and the United States and are represented in important private and institutional collections.

Alongside his studio practice, Borrero has maintained a longstanding commitment to art education. In 2002, he established his own studio school dedicated to the teaching of traditional drawing and painting. Over more than two decades, his instruction has helped students develop competitive portfolios and earn admission, scholarships, and recognition from institutions including Pratt Institute, Rhode Island School of Design, Cornell University, and Cooper Union, among others.

Following the COVID 19 pandemic, Borrero expanded his educational program internationally through Atelier School Online, providing structured instruction in classical drawing, oil painting, portraiture, and Old Master techniques to students beyond Puerto Rico.

Borrero continues to live, paint, research, and teach in Puerto Rico. His recent work further explores the relationship between historical materials and contemporary painting, including the revival of mantelillo, a distinctive textile support historically associated with Spanish Old Master painting.

Curriculum Vitae