Benjamín Cañas, 1933–1987
A Posthumous Tribute

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The Creation of Time (La Creación del Tiempo) by Benjamín Cañas, 1969 Mayan period Pyroengraved mixed media on paper, 19 x 25 inches Private collection, Sharps, Virginia, U.S.A. Photograph by Sharon H. Garvey

Stele No. 1 Estela Nú 1 by Benjamín Cañas, 1970 Mayan period Pyroengraved mixed media on panel, 20 x 24 inches Private collection, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A.

The Art Show (La Galería) by Benjamín Cañas, 1973 Neo-Humanist or Neo-Figurative Period Oil on panel, 20 x 24 inches Private collection, Chevy Chase, Maryland, U.S.A.

The Illusionist (El Ilusionista) by Benjamín Cañas, 1978 Neo-Humanist or Neo-Figurative Period Oil on panel, 48 x 46 inches Private collection, Falls Church, Virginia, U.S.A.

Bacchanal (Bacanal) by Benjamín Cañas, 1982 Neo-Humanist or Neo-Figurative Period Oil on panel, 47.5 x 73 inches Private collection, Long Island, New York, U.S.A.

Chronos and Oedipus (Cronos y Edipo) by Benjamín Cañas, 1980 Neo-Humanist or Neo-Figurative Period Oil on panel, 76 x 46 inches Private collection, Long Island, New York, U.S.A.

The Seed of Time (La Semilla del Tiempo) by Benjamín Cañas, 1967 Abstract Period Pyroengraved oil painting on wood, 36 x 36 inches Private collection, Annandale, Virginia, U.S.A. Black and white photograph

Even before the late Benjamín Cañas became known internationally for his sculptures, his striking pyroengraved abstract paintings on wood panels, and even a small number of etchings in his earlier period, and his Renaissance-like richly colored surrealist oil paintings in his later period, this remarkable artist was an internationally renowned architect with fine examples of structures, particularly churches, to his credit that are solely his design outside and inside (including a Via Crucis wrap-around mural in one). In this day and age of large architectural firms producing by-and-large catalogue-component buildings, this is a particularly noteworthy accomplishment.

Read more about Benjamín Cañas' pyrography history in a 1999 article for Pyrograffiti.

For more about the extraordinary art work of this brilliant artist and architect, please e-mail the E-Museum Curator.

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