The Artist and his Work Born in Puntarenas, Costa Rica, in 1958, Francisco Castro Lostalo received formal artistic training at the Universidad Autónoma de Centro América in San José, then devoted several years to teaching art in high schools and in his own ceramic studios. While he was still living in Costa Rica, he established and operated a successful ceramics business that included mould-making, firing, finishing, wholesale and retail sales, and a ceramics school. Since moving to Canada in 1989, Francisco has focussed more of his attention on his own art. He has worked extensively in ceramics, but is comfortable and adept with a wide range of media, including painting and drawing as well as sculpture. Now, he concentrates most of his artistic effort in creating figurative sculpture. He has studied the marble-carving techniques of the masters in Italy, and although he continues to produce exciting ceramic figures, he works increasingly in stone and bronze. Regardless of his medium, this artist prefers to make each sculpture a unique work. Each ceramic piece is hollow, and hand-made without moulds, built using a technique that Francisco developed himself. Even his bronzes are unique originals, created in wax with no copies. Señor Castro's decision to concentrate in sculpture is strongly supported by the quality of his completed work. Fusing his technical strengths with powerful expressions of creative spirit, he breathes life into his media and his subjects. His art mirrors the richness of his creative mind and the depth of his perception and sensitivity. Through judicious use of an exaggerated style, he manages to capture energy, movement, emotion and vulnerability. Francisco Castro Lostalo holds dual citizenship, in Costa Rica and Canada. He currently makes his home in Toronto. His works can be found in galleries and private collections in Canada, the United States, Europe, Argentina and his native Costa Rica. He has devoted considerable energy to working with and on behalf of other artists, and served as vice-president of the Latin American Artists' Network (LAAN). He recently left his position as Director or the Art Department at Toronto's Beach Arts Centre to devote more time to his sculpting, but is continuing to teach art classes for adults. Artist's Statement Life is a stream of fleeting moments, set into place by the diverse forces of nature, spirit and society. These moments can seem as tiny and insignificant as specks of dust. Even life itself is fragile; we are destined to return to the dust from which we have come. Yet patterns of human experience and emotion remain constant, without regard for boundaries of time or culture. Ceramics, stone and bronze - as artistic media - also cut across cultural lines and have endured for hundreds, even thousands of years. Through these media, I give shape and texture to my observations and interpretations of life and society. My sculptures celebrate the innocence of youth and the weight of age; struggle and achievement; ecstasy and pain; beauty and energy; passion and sexuality; freedom, strength and power. Blending contemporary and primitive styles, I link the present to the past. I use traditional sculpting and finishing methods, in homage to the artistic and spiritual legacy of my Central American ancestors. The passages of life are inevitable. What lives, dies; what is, disappears. But through art and my chosen media, the precious spirit and vitality of life's fragile moments can be captured, preserved and celebrated. -- Francisco Castro Lostalo Solo Exhibitions Casa de la Cultura Puntarenas, Costa Rica -- February 2001 ArtsWeek Maslak-McLeod Gallery, Toronto, Canada -- September 2000 Beach Arts Centre Toronto, Canada -- 1997 Fonseca Galleries Ontario Design Centre, Toronto, Canada -- 1995 Group Exhibitions Maslak-McLeod Gallery Toronto, Canada -- November 2000 Flanders International Art and Culture Exhibition Remscheid, Germany -- 2000 Flanders International Plastic Arts Exhibition Brussels, Belgium -- 2000 Art Studio Tour, Queen Street East & Carlaw District Toronto, Canada -- 2000 Ritmo y Color, Latin American Arts Festival, Harbourfront Toronto, Canada -- 1999 Beach Arts Centre Toronto, Canada -- 1999 Flanders International Plastic Arts Exhibition Brussels, Belgium -- 1998 Central American Independence Celebration, Ontario Club Toronto, Canada -- 1996 Latin Festival, Canadian National Exhibition Toronto, Canada -- 1996 Ontario Institute for Studies in Education Toronto, Canada -- 1995 Image World Gallery, Ontario Design Centre Toronto, Canada -- 1993 Exhibition of International Artists Toronto, Canada -- 1993 Banco Nacional de Costa Rica Puntarenas, Costa Rica -- 1984 Cerámica Andrea San José, Costa Rica -- 1982 Colegio Técnico Profesional Agropecuario de Jicaral Guanacaste, Costa Rica -- 1979

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