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Tomás Batista (born 1935, Luquillo, Puerto Rico) is considered to be Puerto Rico's greatest sculptor. He is the creator of some of Puerto Rico's most famous monuments.
In 1955, while working with the Spanish artist, Angel Botello, Batista discovered that he had a natural talent to work with the restoration process in wood. He learned from Botello the secrets of restoration and how to work with gold on wood. His first work of art Crucifixion came about in 1957.
In 1958, Batista studied sculptoring at the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña under the direction of the Maestro Compostela.
Batista also studied art in the Escuela la Esmeralda in Mexico, the Guggenhimen in New York and in the Instituto de Cultura Hispánica in Spain.
Among his creations is El Monumento al Jibaro Puertorriqueño (Monument to the Common Puerto Rican Countryman) in Cayey. In this monument Batista reflects the humbleness and hard working nature of the typical Puerto Rican farmer and his family. The monument is located by the Luis A. Ferré Highway in Cayey.
Among Batista's other works are the sculptures of Eugenio María de Hostos in Mayagüez, Chuito de Cayey in Cayey, and Rafael Hernández in Bayamón plus many more.
In 1987 Batista was awarded the Medalla de la Orden del Quinto Centenario meaning: the "Medal of the Order of the 5th Century", in commemoration of Puerto Rico being discovered by Colombus.
The City of Bayamón is the sponsor of Batista's work with a permanent exposition in the Salón Batista. In 1991, a permanent exhibitition of his works was also established in his native city of Luquillo.
Tomás Batista's works of art can also be found in museum's in Puerto Rico, New York and Washington, D.C., and also in some private collections.