Born Angel Ramiro Sanchez in 1974 in Maracaibo, Venezuela, at age six Ramiro was accepted with full scholarship into the Ninos Cantores School for musically gifted children. At age fourteen he began five years of apprenticeship with the realist painter, Abdon Jose Romero, an eminent specialist in murals for churches and publics buildings. In 1993 a study grant from Mgr Gustavo Ocando Yamarte, Founder of the Ninos Cantores, enable him to travel to Florence, Italy, Where he successfully passed the admission examination for the renowned Accademia di Belle Arti. During the four years he studied full time at the Accademia, receiving his diploma magna cum laude, Ramiro also attended drawing and painting sessions at the Florence Academy of Art, directed by painter Daniel Graves. Ramiro was appointed Senior Painting Instructor at the FAA in 1997.  He continues to live and work in Florence. 

Ramiro's paintings came to the attention of Italian private collectors for the first time in 1996 at a juried exhibition in Montopoli, near Florence. His successful showing led to the acquisition of his works by collectors such as Antonio Salini and count Francesco Guicciardini. Ramiro has been represented since 1998by Grenning gallery, where he held his first one-man show the following year. In 2001 he executed on commission a portrait of the lead actress in the off-Broadway production of The Countess, a new play devoted to Ruskin and his wife's infamous affair with Millis. In 2003 his paintings and drawings were subject of a monograph "Ramiro" by international art critic John T. Spike. In 2005 he received the special Director's Award at the Florence International Biennale of Contemporary Art. He has been invited to show his work as a guest artist at the Austria Biennale 2006 edition. Paintings, drawings and portraits by Ramiro are found in public and private collections in Italy, Germany, England, Hungary, The United States, Canada and Venezuela.

Education:

1993-1997 Florence Academy of Art, directed by Daniel Graves, Florence, Italy.
1993-1997 Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze Graduated Magna Cum Laude, Thesis: Historic and Technical Notes of Academic Realism Today.
1995 Florence, Italy: Michael John Angel Studios.
1988-1993 Maracaibo, Venezuela: Abdon Romero Atelier.

Employment:

1997 - present : Portrait Commissions
1997 - present : Senior Painting Instructor at the Florence Academy of Art
1996: Count Guicciardini, Montopoli Vald’Arno, Italy Commissioned
works: portraiture, still life, landscape
1995 Mural commission, Old Bridge Restaurant, San Giovanni Val’Arno
1992-1993 Assisted Prof. Abdon Romero Atelier with mural project:
"Historia de la Salvacion", (oil 500 sq. m.)
Ciudad de Dios, Maracaibo, Venezuela.
1990-1991 Assisted Prof. Abdon Romero Atelier with commissions:
"Al Arca de la Alianza", (oil 4m. x 8m.)
" Resureccion del Senor", (7m. x 9m.)