Farewell to the titan of art, who now rests among celestial paintings and sculptures
It seems that even the gods of art need a curator, because Óscar Román, the founder of the Óscar Román Gallery, decided to undertake his last exhibition in the afterlife. The news, announced by his gallery with a tone more solemn than a Renaissance painting, left the artistic community wondering: “And now who is going to discover the next Frida and Diego?”.
A legacy so great that not even the Louvre could display it
Román not only sold art; he lived it, breathed it and probably dreamed it in technicolor. The gallery described him as a man of “unwavering passion”, which is a euphemism for saying that he was more stubborn than a collector refusing to sell his Picasso. It trained generations of artists and collectors, because, let’s be honest, someone had to teach them that art is not just a doodle on a tablecloth.
His family, in a statement so emotional that even the statues cried, remembered him as “generous and passionate”. The funeral services will be in the French Pantheon, because if you are going to say goodbye, do it in European style. Of course, don’t expect to see his gallery closed: he is probably already organizing a posthumous exhibition.
Mexican art cries (with class, yes)
Institutions such as the Soumaya Museum and Zona Maco regretted his departure, because losing Román is like losing the instruction manual for contemporary art. He studied International Relations, but soon realized that cadres talk more than diplomats. He specialized in London and Paris, because if you are going to be an expert in art, it better be with a French accent.
In 1991 he opened his gallery, a space that “emerged to exhibit young Mexicans” and that ended up being the refuge of talents such as Jazzamoart, Jorge Marín and Laura Quintanilla. He also curated exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art, because why settle for one gallery when you can invade all the museums?
And if that were not enough, the man had a heart: he organized charity auctions for the Mexico Vivo Foundation, demonstrating that art not only decorated walls, but also saved lives. What more did they want? That he would paint a mural with his feet?
So, while the art world gathers to toast with expensive wine (white, please, it stains less), we are left with its legacy: a Mexico that is more cultured, more artistic and, above all, more aware that art is not a luxury, but a necessity. As he would say: “If you don’t like art, it’s because you haven’t understood it… or they haven’t charged you enough.”.
Were you moved by their story? Share this article and celebrate the lives of those who make the world a more interesting canvas. Or, if you prefer, visit a gallery… but don’t touch anything, eh?
