Puerto Rico's Forests & Island Nature
Ikebana Communion
This abstract creates a dynamic composition inspired by Puerto Rico’s lush vegetation and wildlife, using flowing forms and layered textures to capture the island’s forests and creatures.
Roots of the Island
A sturdy tree with sprawling roots and a dense canopy embodies Puerto Rico’s deep connection to its land, symbolizing the island’s strength, resilience, and the enduring roots of its culture.
Ikebana Communion
This abstract creates a dynamic composition inspired by Puerto Rico’s lush vegetation and wildlife, using flowing forms and layered textures to capture the island’s forests and creatures.
About the Artists
Ben Morales Correa
Ben Morales-Correa is a Puerto Rican fine artist whose work spans both abstract and figurative painting. He began developing his artistic practice at an early age under the guidance of his father, a master graphic artist, illustrator, and printer. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Morales-Correa moved to San Francisco, where he pursued studies in fine arts and communications while also participating in public mural projects and working in graphic design studios. In 1982, he received a summer scholarship from the San Francisco Academy of Arts, and in 1996 he was awarded First Prize in Photography by Archaeology Magazine in New York. In 1992, Morales-Correa founded the atelier Mythos, where he developed innovative techniques for creating replicas inspired by ancient Egyptian paintings. His works have been collected internationally throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. Alongside his studio practice, he has also served as a painting instructor for several institutions in Puerto Rico, including the Escuela de Artes Plásticas, Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, and the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico. His work continues to reflect a deep connection to history, culture, landscape, and visual storytelling.
Karla Morales
Karla Morales discovered her passion for photography in her early twenties after purchasing a 35mm Minolta camera, beginning a lifelong exploration of visual storytelling through travel, culture, and everyday beauty. Although she started with film photography years earlier, it was in 2 013, after receiving her first digital camera, that she fully committed herself to refining her craft through self-study, experimentation, and inspiration from photographers she admires. Based in Puerto Rico, Karla’s work is deeply influenced by the vibrant landscapes of the Caribbean and her travels around the world. Her photography captures authentic moments with a natural, atmospheric sensibility, focusing on light, tex ture, and emotion to create imagery that invites viewers to slow down and connect with their surroundings.
Puerto Rico's Forests & Island Nature
Puerto Rico's forests range from the mist-draped peaks of El Yunque's tropical rainforest to the dry, cactus-studded coastal woodlands of the southwest, forming a mosaic of habitats that supports extraordinary biodiversity across a surprisingly compact island. These forests are the living roots of Puerto Rican identity — places of spiritual and cultural significance where endemic species like the Puerto Rican parrot, coquí frog, and San Pedrito bird have evolved in isolation, woven into the island's folklore, art, and sense of self.
To visit this location or schedule a tour please stop by Rio Mar's concierge desk in the lobby.