House of Representatives opens Women’s Week with historic double art exhibition.

On Tuesday, “the halls of the Capitol will be transformed into art galleries, showcasing the best works of two great figures: sculptor María Elena Perales and painter Aidamaris Román,” Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives Carlos “Johnny” Méndez Nuñez said. “They represent a sample of the great talent of our women.” (Wikipedia)

By THE STAR STAFF

As part of his commitment to promoting creative spaces for Puerto Rican women, Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives Carlos “Johnny” Méndez Nuñez announced over the weekend the unveiling of a historic double exhibition, combining paintings and sculptures by renowned local artists María Elena Perales and Aidamaris Román.

“As part of the efforts aimed at providing creative spaces and in commemoration of International Women’s Week, this coming Tuesday, March 10, the halls of the Capitol will be transformed into art galleries, showcasing the best works of two great figures: sculptor María Elena Perales and painter Aidamaris Román,” Méndez said. “They represent a sample of the great talent of our women.”

The first presentation, a unique collection of oil paintings on canvas titled “Beings of Light,” is scheduled for Tuesday at 3 p.m. in the Arnaldo Roche Rabell Room.

At 5 p.m., the exhibition of sculptures by Perales, known as “Embroidering Memories,” will open in the José Tous Soto Room.

Both presentations will adorn the halls of the so-called “Palace of Laws,” which is visited annually by tens of thousands of tourists, for the next 30 days.

Between the openings, there will be a musical performance by members of the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra.

Perales is a renowned sculptor and photographer, and a graduate of the Puerto Rico School of Fine Arts, where she earned her degree in sculpture and painting. The artist has been a member of the Puerto Rico Association of Women Artists, and has presided over the Puerto Rico Sculptors Association and the Puerto Rican Association of Visual Artists.

She has participated in highly significant events such as the First Ibero-American Biennial in Lima, Peru in 1997, where she was the only artist to leave a permanent work next to the city hall, and the Havana Biennial, among other forums.

Román, born in Arecibo, is a contemporary visual artist who works primarily with oil on canvas. Her work is characterized by a profound emotional charge and a personal symbolic language, through which she explores themes such as memory, identity, childhood, nostalgia and human vulnerability.

Her art has been exhibited on international art platforms and featured in prestigious specialized publications such as “ModPortrait 2025” and “Guía Leonardo 2025,” among others.

Also part of the initiative are at-large Rep. José Aponte Hernández and District 31 (Caguas and Gurabo) Rep. Roberto López Román.