Omar Rayo  (Colombian, 1928-2010) 

Omar Rayo (Colombian, January 20, 1928–June 7, 2010) was an artist involved in various types of artwork, such as painting, sculpture, plastic, and caricature. He was best known for using Abstract Geometry as his style. Rayo was one of the foremost pioneers of Op Art. He studied drawing at Academie Zier of Buenos Aires. He was the winner of the 1970 Salon de Artistas Colombianos. His particular focus was Op Art, also known as Optical Art, a style which employs optical illusions that interact with viewers. Op Art is considered Abstract, with many pieces made only of black-and-white. Rayo was also known to use red and other colors.

Many of the artist’s paintings, engravings, and other artworks are placed in the Museum of Rayo de Dibujo y Grabado Latinamericano, which was founded on January 20, 1981, in Colombia. The museum featured more than 2,000 of Rayo's works as well as 500 works by other Latin artists. For most of his career, Rayo supported and tried to publicize Latin artists, with his campaigns culminating in the museum. Along with artwork, the museum features a library, theater, and graphic arts workshop. Rayo funded most of the museum himself, with the help of the Colombian government. Some of his more famous works include Sin Titula, Xumux, and Gohei V. His work is a mix of color and illusion. His images force people to look beyond the image and into deeper meaning.

Besides the Museum de Rayo de Dibujo y Grabado Latinamericano, the artist’s work has been featured in the National Room of the Museum of the Palace of Fine Arts of Mexico, and many other galleries and museums throughout the world. Rayo spent his life educating people about art. He collapsed while eating breakfast at his home on June 7, 2010, and died on the way to the hospital after suffering from a heart attack. Without Rayo at its helm, the museum couldn't have endured the difficult times it was in, although a foundation was developed to help support the museum and promote Latin American Art.