Writers, Poets and Intellectuals
(Arranged by date of birth)

Agripina Montes del Valle (1844-1915)  – Poet.
Considered one of the most illustrious female poets of her time, Agripina Montes wrote under the pseudonym “Azucena del Valle”.
A selection of her most beautiful works includes Al Tequendama, El Último Pijao, and Nada del Mundo. She was decorated in Colombia for her poem Al Tequendama and was awarded a medal in Chile for A la América del Sur. To honour her name, an educational institution in Caldas was named after her. She was born in Salamina.

Luis Alzate (1889-1939) – Poet and essayist.
This outstanding intellectual and writer also held important political posts. He was the author of anthology essays, Brujas, and several poems, such as Marcha de Juventud, for which he won the Floral Literary Competition in 1913.
He was born in Salamina.

Silvio Villegas (1902-1972) – Writer and politician.
This prominent writer and speaker, was also an editor and columnist for several Colombian newspapers, a member of the Council of Manizales, a delegate of the Legislative Assembly of Caldas, a congressman, and a leader of the conservative party.
His works include The Imitation of Goethe, The Walker's Song, From Geneva to Rio de Janeiro, and The Fairy Melusina . Villegas was born in Manizales.

Otto Morales – Writer, philosopher and politician.
An important national figure, Morales Benítez is a lawyer, a member of the Colombian Academy of History, the Academy of Spanish Language, and the Academy of Jurisprudence.
He was secretary of the Liberal Party and was awarded the “Great Cross of Democracy” by Congress. He has received honorary doctorates from two Peruvian universities. He has written over 60 books and is considered one of the best essayists in Colombia. Morales was born in Riosucio in 1920.

Jaime Bedoya– Writer, poet and philosopher.
The Rebellious Pijao is both a pseudonym and the title of one this recognized authors books. His prose and poetry is found in the Bank of the Republic Library. He also penned More Than One Century of Caldas Poetry.
He was born in Manizales in 1931.

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Artists

Alipio Jaramillo (1913-1999) – Muralist.
One of the first modern art painters to work on murals, Jaramillo has exhibited his works in many countries. His most famous murals are found at the University of Manizales and the Luis Angel Arango Library.
His works have brought him many awards and recognition. He was born in Manizales.

David Manzur – Painter.
"Only a few painters in recent years have the perfection, creative imagination, and technical skills of David Manzur," said the art critic Fernando Ureña.
Many of the finest paintings of this famous artist have been admired at the best art galleries and exhibition halls in Colombia, the United States, Europe, and South America.
Master Manzur has received a great number of national and international recognitions.
In October 2020, the Spanish ambassador to Colombia, on behalf of King Felipe VI, decorated the Colombian artist David Manzur with the Order of Isabel la Católica in the rank of Commandery.
Manzur was born in Neira in 1929.

Judith Márquez (1929-1994) – Painter
An artist of figurative expressionism,
Judith Márquez had exhibitions at the Pan American Union in Washington, D.C., the III Hispanic American Biennial in Barcelona, Spain, and the Biennial of Venice.
Her works are found at the Luis Angel Arango Library, the OAS Museum of Art of the Americas as well as in private collections. Her place of birth was Manizales.

Luciano Jaramillo (1938-1984) – Expressionist painter
After studying and exhibiting his work in Paris, France, this artist participated in numerous shows in Colombia where he obtained several prizes. He was also a university lecturer on painting.
As a posthumous homage, the Museum of Modern Art of Bogota carried out a retrospective exposition and launched the book Luciano Jaramillo.
The artist was born in Manizales.

Virgilio Patiño – Painter
This renowned landscape painter belongs to the last generation of the so-called School of the Sabana. In 1968 he devoted himself to the inverse technique which consists in painting on glass and transparent acrylic. His technique is manifested by its Andean landscapes, the coffee area and colorful landscapes.
His works have been exhibited in many galleries in Colombia, United States, France , Italy, Venezuela and Panama
In 1994 he received the First Prize in classical painting as well as an Honourable Mention granted by ACCA (Association of Art Critics and Commentators) in Miami.
Patiño was born in Pennsylvania, Caldas in 1948.