omez did not have any background in art nor was there anyone in his family that was into it.  Coming from a humble family, as a growing boy, all that was of importance to his family was about making ends meet, therefore art was not even a thought.  Success came after years of hard work and owning a Porsche was one of his dreams.

“My interest in art started when bought an original artwork by Uruguayan artist Carlos Paez Vilaro. When I visited his studio, I realized that he was just as passionate as I am and I felt an instant connection with him. That was my introduction to art and fell in love with it.”

Gomez’ initiation to art by Vilaro was the beginning of his commitment to collecting art that combine the two passions in his life  – a collection that sets him apart from a typical collector.

Jorge Gomez with his family, Argentine artist Omar Panosetti and Fox News crew

He commissioned Vilaro to translate his art in the bonnet of his Porsche which resulted to a fascinating work entitled “The Mirror”, a double nude female figure painted in 2009. That kicked-off his collection and through the help of his curator Loreto Arenas he commissioned artists from Argentina and Uruguay. Hence, the collection and his relationship with the artists grew and in September 2011, “Coleccion Gomez” was exhibited at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart and subsequently traveled to different destinations.

Having this conversation with Gomez makes it clear that works enter the collection because of the light they cast on the artist’s experiences and not the style and he doesn’t collect systematically, “I chose the work that speaks to my heart.  I have no specific theme in mind, instead I allow the emotion of the art work to speak for itself,” he adds, “I make sure I meet the artist and look for a connection and know that his or her art is from the heart and not someone who does it only because it’s a living.” He engages with artists on a mutual ground, forming relationships with them. He prefers bright colorful artwork that gives a good feeling rather than art that are focused on violence and hate.

Through “Coleccion Gomez,” Argentinian and Uruguayan artists are being promoted in various parts of the world and he plans to develop this project to a multi-culture platform by commissioning local artist from the region the collection is on exhibition.  As he explains his project, “Not only will this help promote the local artist in the international scene but to also expand the collection itself.”

Art and life are comfortably entwined in the Gomez residence in Buenos Aires.  He has a separate collection of Ferrari hoods and a Pagani especially for his personal viewing pleasure.

Asked about his comments on Bahrain, “The warm reception we received was overwhelming and I feel the great excitement from the people of Bahrain,” says Gomez “I will come back to Bahrain for one reason and one reason only, the warmth of the people.”

He will be back next year with his Pagani Zonda F “Batman Car” and his Porsche 918 Hybrid at the Formula One Grand Prix.
- NSchwarz

Jorge Gomez and Daniel Anastacia of Coleccion Gomez