Heredia, 1934 Olger Villegas Cruz began his career as sculptor since he was fourteen years old, working in making of religious images in workshops, such as Manuel Zuñiga`s, Nestor Zeledon Varela`s, Jose Zamora`s (junior), Francisco Ulloa Baez`s and Juan Rafael Chacon`s. In 1951 he enters the University of Costa Rica, where he gets his degree in Fine Arts and, furthermore, he the title of "Profesor de Estado de Artes Plasticas". He travels to Mexico in 1962. He studied there with the Sculptor Alberto de la Vega in La Esmeralda Academy, which is nowadays the National School of Painting and Sculpture. In 1970 he comes back to the same academy in Mexico and studies the modern methods of carving with the master Jose Lorenzo Ruiz Hernandez. He goes on travelling to Mexico searching new knowlegde, specially, on bronze smelting with the Master Mario Aguirre Roa. He worked as professor of Fine Arts and Sculpture for twenty years in several institutions of Costa Rica such as: Highschool of San Jose, Rodrigo Facio Highschool, Conservatory Castella, Highschool of Heredia and in the Fine Arts Faculties of the National University of Costa Rica and in the Autonomous University of Central America. His are exhibited inpublic sites and autonomous Costa Rican institutions such as: National Institute of Insurance, Costa Rican Department of Social Security, Costa Rican Institute of Electricity, Central Bank of Costa Rica, Museum of Costa Rican Art, and the General Finance Office General of the Republic. Important collectors in different parts of the world have some of his works. Among his prizes and exhibitions the most important are: 1945: First Prize (gold medal) George Washington School. San Ramon, Costa Rica. 1946: First Prize (gold medal) in sculpture, George Washington School. San Ramon, Costa Rica. 1952: First Prize in Drawing, Painting and Sculpture, Fine Arts, University of Costa Rica. 1972: Expo Apse, San Jose, Costa Rica. First Prize in Sculpture in the Expo Apse. San Jose, Costa Rica. 1974: Exhibition Annual Hall of Fine Arts. 1975: Colonial Gallery of Heredia, Costa Rica. First National Prize Aquileo J. Echeverria. 1978: Fine Arts, University of Costa Rica. 1979: Public Library of Santo Domingo of Heredia. National Institute of Ensurances, San Jose, Costa Rica. First Prize Aquileo J. Echeverria. 1980: Drawings in the hall of the Metropolitan Building, San Jose, Costa Rica. Culture House, Heredia. Museum of Costa Rican Arts, San Jose, Costa Rica. 1981: Julia Marchena Hall, National Library, San Jose, Costa Rica. Mierachi Gallery of Mexico, DF. 1982: Suma-Artis Gallery, Mexico, D.F. 1983: in the Garden of the Sculture in Villa Magna, Mexico, DF. Monte Sinai Cultural Center, Mexico, DF. Le Centre D' Arte, Montereal, Canada. Up Town Gallery, New York, U.S.A. Hall of Cultural Promotion, Mexico, DF. Dos Puertas Gallery in Mexico, DF. Art Expo New York, U.S.A. 1985: Bijoux Witzo (Caracas, Venezuela). 1987: Bijoux Witzo (Caracas, Venezuela). XV Cervantine Festival, Guanajuato, Mexico. He is awarded with the Ancora prize of the Costa Rican newspaper La Nacion. He exhibits in the facilities of La Nacion. 1988: Bijoux Witzo (Caracas, Venezuela). His work "Mujer con gato" is auctioned by the Sotheby`s House in New York. 1989: Ex Presidents Hall of the Legislative Assambly, San Jose, Costa Rica. First National Prize Aquileo J. Echeverria. 1990: Takey Museum, Tokyo, Japan. 1991-93: He dedicates his work to the elaboration of the Monument "Garantias Sociales" (Zapote rotunda); which is integrated by three groups of scultures of about 3 meters each. 1994: First Biennal of Sculpture, Costa Rican Center for Science and Culture. San Jose, Costa Rica. 1996: "Encuentro con Olger Villegas" Exhibition carried out in tribute to the artist by the Association of Cost Rican Painters and Sculptors (APEC). Center for Science and Culture. San Jose Costa Rica. 1997: "El corazon del Arte Latinoamericano", Valanti Gallery. San Jose, Costa Rica. He initiates the works of the Monument to Daniel Oduber Quiros, a figure of four meters based in the Morazan Park of San Jose and ended in 1998. 1998: "Grupo Causa" Simultaneous Exhibition in four galleris of Central America different countries. 1999: Monument "La Familia" Costa Rican Institute Electricity. San Jose, Costa Rica. 2000: Bust Portrait of Arnoldo Herrera. Castella Conservatory, Heredia, Costa Rica. Bust Portrait of the Priest Delio Arguedas. Santa Maria de Guadalupe College. Heredia, Costa Rica. Bust Portrait of Nicolas Ulloa. Central Park of Heredia. Heredia, Costa Rica.
