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I am Lynne Baron, Coordinator of The F. Luis Mora Project.

Mora's artistry impressed me when I was consigned an estate portfolio of his early drawings and watercolors in 2003.  Searching for information about this artist, I found only brief biographical comments in reference books. Perplexed, I inquired why this artist was not highly recognized. Nobody seemed to know. I endeavored to research this forgotten artist. To find a living link to Mora, for more than six months I read old newspapers where he lived and painted -- CT, NY and NJ.  Eventually I found an article about his niece in a New Jersey weekly.

On the walls of Mora's family home, where his niece still resides, there were impressive family portraits.  In the basement lay the fragile remains of Luis Mora’s estate, including Mora's monumental self-portrait, and the life-size oil of sultry Salome which was in shreds. An unfinished portrait of Jo Mora, F. Luis Mora's brother, had charcoal lines were his five gallon hat was to be painted larger but never was.

 Forty oil paintings, of which twelve were monumental or life-size, and hundreds of watercolors, pastels and drawings had been disintegrating under newspapers dated 1972. Understanding that the major oils required extensive conservation, Mora’s niece kindly parted with her remaining cache of minor works. They were resold to pay for the conservation of the estate pieces for exhibition.

In April 2005, ACA Galleries mounted a show of Mora's works from his estate and from other sources. As Mora's works are brought into the public domain, art collectors are enthralled and they wonder why Mora has been disregarded. Curators and scholars have been enthusiastic and helpful. Call this a Labor of Love, but I am compelled to see that F. Luis Mora regains his recognition. It is inconceivable that for sixty-five years this fascinating artist has been relegated to near-obscurity.

With deepest gratitude to the outstanding people involved in this endeavor: Luis Mora's niece, Mora estate attorney George Boyd, Esq., and the artist's friends David Hume and siblings.  Jeffrey Bergen and Mikaela Lamarche at ACA Galleries are to be commended   www.acagalleries.com  A very special tribute for the expertise of M. Elizabeth Boone Ph.D., Laurene Buckley Ph.D., Peter Falk and Benjamin Ortiz.  And I send appreciation for the friendship that F. Luis Mora's collectors have shown me.

Lynne Pauls Baron

Coordinator of The F. Luis Mora Project

Baron Art Estate Managers, www.baronart.com