Enoc Perez was born in San Juan in 1967 and received his first painting lessons at the age of eight. The son of an art critic, he spent his family holidays visiting museums in various countries and learning about art history. In 1986, Perez moved to New York to study painting at Pratt Institute before earning his master’s degree at Hunter College. Conflicted with the program at Hunter College, where students and faculty criticized his paintings as overly seductive and decorative, Perez held fast to his belief in the importance of aesthetics and the joy of art. Embracing art’s potential for pleasure and beauty, Perez paints sensual nudes, still lifes, tropical resorts, and modern architectural icons in a simple aesthetic with dazzling, vibrant colors.

He describes his inspiration for his paintings of architectural icons:

“In a sense, these architects really believed in the idea of utopia. There’s a real feeling of believing in these buildings, and when you look at contemporary architecture, that’s not so much the case. The fact that they come from a different era makes them nostalgic. I love painting, and I believe in painting, and I share that with these architects who believed in utopia. Many painters paint to question the medium, which might be perfect for them, but I am one of those who really believe in painting”.