My story
Adolfo R. Gonzalez was born in 1964, of Puerto Rican immigrants along with two sisters and three brothers.
Adolfo has always been motivated by the arts. Most of his life, it was and still is a high priority. At the young age of twelve years old, he won his first art competition at the Buckingham Art Show. After graduating from Orr High School in Chicago, Adolfo’s education continued at the Chicago Academy of Arts.
Adolfo is now happily married to his wife of 23 years; he has three wonderful children (two daughters and one son). His eldest daughter has blessed him with four beautiful grandchildren.
Adolfo has been blessed with many art achievements and commissions. Some of his accomplishments include an athletic sculpture which hangs from the ceiling at the Pepsi Center for the Denver Nuggets located in Denver, CO. In 2008, an 8’ tall by 153’ long oil painting for McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, NV. This piece depicts the gradual history of Las Vegas as it relates to the strip. One of his paintings was purchased by Dixie College in Southern Utah as part of their personal collection. Adolfo partnered with three local Las Vegas artist and created the Doolittle Senior Center Ancestral Gateway sculpture. However, Adolfo’s most treasured and honored art piece is the Southern Nevada Law Enforcement Police sculpture commissioned by the City of Las Vegas, NV. The sculpture is a 26’ tall by 12’ wide and is a dedication piece to the fallen members of law enforcement for LVPD. Adolfo is very proud of this piece, and has only continued to create wonderful works of art for the community of Las Vegas, NV.
Even until this day, Adolfo continues expanding on his educational foundation by taking various classes of different art mediums to hone in on his skills. Blessed with the ability of being a jack of all trades within the art realm, Adolfo can truly say that art is his one true passion and he enjoys sharing the visual experience with those around him.
Adolfo’s passion for art is never fulfilled. Once he completes a project, he eagerly seeks out his next masterpiece. His goal is to accept as many challenges, expectations, and explorations of every possible avenue.
Major Awards & Recognitions
2001
INTERNATIONAL SIGN COMPETITION - 1ST PLACE IN SIGN DESIGN
2002
COMMUNITY PARTENRSHIP IN EDUCATION FOR PROMOTING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
2003
COMMUNITY PARTENRSHIP IN EDUCATION FOR PROMOTING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
2004
UNITED STATE SENATE CERTIFICATE OF COMMENDATION HONOR AWARD
CONGRESSIONAL RECOGNITTION OF CONGRESS WOMAN SHELLY BURKLEY HISPANIC MUSEUM
2007
INTERNATIONAL SIGN COMPETITION - 1ST PLACE SIGN DESIGN
2008
MAYOR’S URBAN DESIGN AWARD - “ANCESTRAL GATEWAY” DOOLITTLE SCULPTURE
2009
PUT IN THE DIRECTORY OF FAMOUS PUERTO RICANS “BORICUA NEWS”
2010
Las Vegas ZAP AWARD - FROM THE COMMISSIONER RICKI Y. BARLOW WARD 5
MAYOR’S URBAN AWARD - SOUTHERN NEVADA LAW ENFORCEMENT MEMORIAL SCULPTURE
2012
JOSE CUERVO TRADITIONAL MURAL PROJECT FINALIST