Coral Gables Historical Archive
The Times
Saturday, May 15, 1976, page 15 (of 26)
The page
The text of this pageRead by computer from the scan, so some words may be wrong. The page picture is the original.
Home Life
The Coral Gables Times / Guide Home Life • Decorating • Design • Remodeling
the times-guide visits . . . lilia and carlos diaz forero | Their home reflects the artist in residence
the times-guide visits . . . lilia and carlos diaz forero Carlos Lilia Antique oval mirror over living room couch is family heirloom By ANA MARIA ALVAREZ Staff Writer While most people have to shop around for art to decorate the walls of their homes, Carlos Diaz Forero, a Coral Gables resident and Colombia's top landscape artist for the past 20 years, displays his own. Diaz Forero and his wife Lilia's home is set at an angle on one of the Gables' most attractive residential streets. An artist since the age of seven, who was painting and making mud sculptures before he could write, Diaz Forero displays his beautiful and varied works of art throughout his home. The paintings in the living room — ranging from magnificent landscapes depicting scenes of Colombia's capital, Bogota, to lifesize portraits of his wife and daughter — are mounted on ornamental frames. Directly centered above the gold brocade couch in the living room is a large oval mirror that has been in the family for three generations. The beautifully kept antique, surrounded with heavy bronze frame, belonged to Diaz Forero's grandmother. Next to the matching brocade love seat is a group of nesting end tables made of dark wood and inlaid with lighter shades of wood. A step down from the living room is a combination dining and family room. A glass chandelier hangs over a black grand piano which Lilia plays. The room is generously decorated with South American ornaments and paintings. Diaz Forero, who has exhibited his work in Ecuador, Venezuela and the United States, as well as his native country of Colombia, has held the title of the best landscape artist since 1946. One of the paintings that hangs in the family room, is done in one of his new techniques. Everything in the landscape — the trees the houses and the people — are painted in directional strokes depicting a rainfall. The natural wood, contemporary dining room tables and china take up a large portion of the combined area. Along side the crystal and china, there are two large still life paintings of colorful fruit arrangements. Also in this room is Lilia's collection of bells from all over the world which are See PAINTINGS, Page 18 A portrait of his daughter, painted by Diaz Forero, hangs in one corner of living room (right) and an antique rolltop desk complements the contemporary bedroom furniture (left). Photos by ELIZABETH OWEN