Born In Puerto Rico  and raised in East NY Brooklyn, Francisco Mulero started drawing at an early age and has continued to progress with his art career throughout the years. He has been profiled in magazines, television, exhibits and the internet for his unique art.

 

Pompa Magazine Article: 

Francisco Mulero The Passion Of The Art By Nereida Luna

Artist come and go each one trying to leave their mark on history. Few artist have that special gift as if touched by God. One artist that has been blessed with such a gift is New York artist Francisco Mulero.
Viewing his paintings is like entering another dimension a place where all inner feelings are revealed and genuine art is created. His paintings explode from one point to create a style all his own. In his paintings hearts are broken and mended, one can not dismiss his paintings you have to look into the painting as well as look into yourself. His work is a story that we all know too well, the human experience. Francisco formerly known as Francisco Lopez decided to make the change to Mulero as a tribute to his mother Maria who suffers from Dementia. In taking her maiden name he has also given life to his Grandfather Francisco Mulero who passed away in 2001. One name change has brought him closer to the two people who have guided him to his life as an artist. “My mother would bring me books of artist such as Salvador Dali and Michelangelo”. I would spend my Saturday mornings tracing their art to the point that I learned how to draw”. When asked about how his Grandfather helped nourish his art he stated “My grandfather was also an artist he would sing, play guitar and build cuatro’s (Puertorican guitar) watching him build the cuatro made me believe that one day I would be just as good an artist as he was at building the cuatro”. “He always instilled in me to never give up and believe that you are someone important “people will put you down and doubt you because of who you are, they will try to make you less than they are, don’t ever let them win become a warrior fight for what you believe in” he would tell me.

And a warrior he has become. He is a prolific artist always staying busy from small drawings to large scale masterpieces this artist keeps moving forward. His web site www.franciscomulero.com showcases his art as well as other merchandise, from T-shirts to mugs. The lessons learned from his mother and grandfather are simple never give up and follow your passion. That passion for Francisco Mulero is his art.


Urban Latino Magazine Article: 

By Dinorah Manago

Francisco Lopez Mulero is an artist in the truest sense of the word. His passion for the arts has even brought him to dabble in a bit of poetry. But, sonnet and limerick's aren't enough to stir him away from his first love-drawing and painting.

The Puerto Rican native came to the United States from Puerto Rico at the age of two. His grandfather, also a migrant from La Isla Del Encanto, was the first to spark Lopez's artistic creativity. Carving Cuatros (string guitars of a Puerto Rican tradition) out of wood and then finished with paint; Lopez watched his grandfather in amazement and soon used that experience as inspiration. His mother also fed her son's talent, bringing him books that detailed the work of greats like Michelangelo and Salvador Dali. And for that, Lopez is eternally grateful. That gratitude shines through his art. While many of his paintings feature women who have come and gone in his life, the one constant is the face of his muse – his mother.

Growing up in Brooklyn, NY during 1970's and 80's, a wide-eyed Francisco faced many urban challenges. Safety was surely one of them. To keep him off of the streets, Francisco's mother made it a point to teaching him the love of art. "Most of what I have learned has been through the books from my mother," Lopez says. "So, when people ask me, 'who did you study under?' I tell them that I studied under Michelangelo and Salvador Dali, because that's how I learned. They taught me more than any art teacher."

For Lopez, like many other artists, art evokes an element of channeling. There's no planning that comes with painting or drawing. It simply happens. That is not to say, however, that he is unsure from where it comes. He has a strong faith in God who he credits for his talent – a talent that guides every stroke. The resulting lines run into one another to form their own language – his stories – stories of faith, love, family and friends. With no formal training apart from the occasional high school art class, all can agree that his talent is nothing short of divine inspiration.

Soon, the amateur developed into a polished artist. Lopez's became known as surrealistic. But there is a distinct quality that sets him apart. "I think that (my art) is something totally different because it's almost like my diary," he explains. "Each drawing or painting has something to do with what I've gone through in life or something that I've seen or read in a newspaper. So it's basically my diary. There's a lot going on in every drawing." One of the most notable features of Francisco's work is the countless face's that can be found, even in the most surprising of places.

According to the artist, each face represents a different shade of the many people that inhabit his world. Painting many faces allows him to communicate the many aspects and attitudes that embody any given person at any given time. "I think that the faces represent the people around us and our different emotions," he continues. "If you look at some of the paintings, such as-Family Portrait – which is a portrait of my mother holding her seven kids – it shows the many emotions that she has had to face raising seven kids on her own. So a lot of the times, the different faces are attached to one person but simply represent the different emotions going through that person."

Another subject of Lopez paintings is his eldest brother. A fellow artist, Lopez's brother struggles to overcome his battle with drugs. Portrayed in Lopez paintings, crucified, his brothers' symbolism is meant to represent the pain of acculturation experienced by some many Latino's. "Coming here brought a big cultural shock," he explains. "There was a lot of racism. Whether from African-Americans or whites, you really got it from everybody back then. I remember] not being able to fully understand, because (coming from Puerto Rico), certain people in your family were black and they're getting racist remarks from the blacks, and you had certain family members who were white and they were dealing with racism from white Americans. Not much has changed. People just control themselves better."

In many ways, art provided an escape from the harsh and angry realities of life. Painting and drawing became more than his hobbies, they became his refuge and art became his partner, lover and soul mate. "I think that my only true love is my art. That's the only thing I know that would never fail me," he confesses. "I have gone through so many things in life that have disappointed me, but my art has never failed me. It just keeps getting better.