Edwing Leonardo Alvarez
Architect | Artist | Lecturer
Edwing Leonardo Alvarez is an accomplished international architect and artist with over 40 years of experience spanning architecture, fine arts, and education.
Originally from the Dominican Republic, Alvarez’s professional and personal journey has taken him across the globe, with long-term engagements in Puerto Rico, the United States, Italy, China, and the United Kingdom.
His passion for travel and culture—fueled by both life circumstances and an innate curiosity—has led him to explore and work extensively throughout Europe, North Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Turkey.
Alvarez holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts and Architectural Design from the University of Texas and both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Architecture from the prestigious Pratt Institute in New York City.
While at Pratt, he was awarded the institute’s highest honor—a full scholarship—after winning a national architectural competition, marking a pivotal moment in his academic and professional life.
In 1996, Edwing founded the AARC Academy of Architecture, an initiative focused on fostering idealistic architectural projects through international collaboration. Under his leadership, the academy has delivered programs across Italy, bringing together students and professionals for intensive design workshops and juried final presentations.
Though not formally trained in painting, Edwing has been immersed in the visual arts from a young age. His passion for painting has developed in parallel with his architectural career, supported by self-guided studies in art history and participation in international workshops with professional painters. His preferred media include watercolor, acrylic, oil, and mixed media—often blending traditional and contemporary techniques.
Alvarez’s artistic expression is deeply personal and emotionally driven, with seascapes forming the core of his work. Water, skies, and coastal landscapes reflect his connection to his Caribbean roots, his travels, and the natural beauty of the places he has encountered. His paintings are marked by expressive brushwork, vibrant color palettes, and an impressionist-modernist sensibility, channeling both classical influences and modern abstraction.
Architectural sketching and painting remain integral to his daily practice, often serving as conceptual tools in client presentations. While he has sold many of his works through personal networks, Edwing now presents his art more formally, aiming to exhibit in dedicated venues and engage audiences through lectures on emotion and impression in art.
His work is dynamic, emotive, and rich with narrative—each piece a visual story rooted in memory, place, and imagination.