Olga Albizu

Albizu was born to a relatively wealthy family and raised in Puerto Rico, where she studied painting with the Spanish painter Esteban Vicente from 1943 to 1947.^[3][4][5] She received a BA from the University of Puerto Rico in 1946. In 1948, she moved to New York City on a fellowship for post-graduate work at the Art Students League,^[3] where she studied under Morris Kantor, Carl Holty, and Vaclav Vytlacil.^[6] She also studied with Hans Hofmann^[6] and subsequently became his apprentice.^[4] After that, she did further studies in Europe at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris and the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence.^[3] Later, she spent a year painting in the Provence, as painters such as Van Gogh and Paul Cézanne had done before her. In 1953, she returned to New York.^[7]

In 1957, Albizu premiered in The First Comprehensive Exhibition of Contemporary Puerto Rican Artists.^[8] Paintings by Albizu were formally inaugurated at the Pan American Union June 16, 1966.^[9] Albizu was extensively exhibited in Puerto Rico, Israel, and the United States.^[9]

Her works have been used in the artwork of various record covers, including a number of albums by Stan Getz.^[10][11][12]
Stan Getz:

• Jazz Samba, 1962
• Big Band Bossa Nova, 1962
• Jazz Samba Encore!, 1963
• Getz/Gilberto, 1964^[13][14]
• Getz/Gilberto Vol. 2, 1966

Bill Evans:

• Trio 64, 1964

Alibizu's work was included in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's 2013 exhibit, "Our America: The Latino Presence in American Art,"^[15] and her work, "Radiante" (1967), is part of the collection^[16] and was used as one of several new banners at the entrance to the Museum in 2017.^[17]

• Honored at Ponce's Park of the Illustrious Ponce Citizens.^[18]
• 2nd prize, Ateneo Puertorriqueño, Puerto Rico 1967
• 2nd prize, Esso Salon of Young Artists, San Juan, Puerto Rico 1964