Puerto Rico has a rich and vibrant legacy of modernist art. While many artists have risen to prominence in this movement, the work of Myrna Báez stands out as some of the finest examples of Puerto Rican modernism. Báez studied in Spain and was heavily influenced by impressionism and surrealism; her style has even elements of cubism. Her paintings betray a particular interest in light and color, which she uses to explore the psychological landscape of Caribbean life. She was also a leading voice in the Puerto Rican independence movement, a supporter of women’s rights, and a crucial advocate for art education.
Báez was a professor at the University of the Sacred Heart and the Art Students League in San Juan, a founding member of the Brotherhood of Graphic Artists of Puerto Rico, and president of the Fine Arts Unit of the cultural institution Ateneo Puertorriqueño. She participated in numerous exhibitions, mainly throughout the Americas.