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Francisco Zúñiga Paintings

Costa Rican, 1912-1998

Known as one of the most important Expressionist artists to emerge from Latin America, Francisco Zúñiga is remembered for his monumental sculptures, figurative paintings and prints, nude drawings and portraits of Central America’s rural indigenous women.

Born in San José, Costa Rica, in 1912, Zúñiga’s exposure to artistic sculpture began at the age of 13, when he worked with his father, Manuel Maria Zúñiga, carving religious figures for local churches. Spurred by a growing interest in art, Zúñiga attended San José’s School of Fine Arts, where he became influenced by classical, renaissance figurative art. After winning several local awards for his prodigious talent, Zúñiga left San José for Mexico City in 1936.

In Mexico City, he attended La Esmeralda, the painting and sculpture school of the National Institute of Fine Arts. There, Zúñiga studied under sculptor Oliverio Martinez and painter Manuel Rodriguez Lozano.

In 1938, Zúñiga joined the faculty at La Esmeralda, where he taught sculpture and painting until 1970. Meanwhile, during the early 1940s, Zúñiga’s works began to attract the attention of art critics in the United States as well as important collectors. In 1941, the Arts Club of Chicago included him as part of their “Thirteen Mexican Artists” group show. The following year, Alfred Barr, director of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, purchased one of his stone sculptures for MoMA’s permanent collection. Then, in 1943, New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art acquired two of Zúñiga’s drawings. 

Throughout most of his career, Zúñiga limited his subject matter to indigenous peasant women. However, he experimented with working with a variety of materials for his sculptures — bronze, alabaster, plaster, marble and modeling clay — and sought new media to create his art. (He made his first lithograph at age 60.)

Zúñiga won countless accolades in his lifetime. He won international awards for 35 of his public sculptures along with other works, and in 1992, he won Mexico’s highest cultural award, the Premio Nacional de Calidad.

Even after his death in 1998, Zúñiga’s legacy lives on. His sculptures, drawings, paintings and prints are found in museums around the world, including MoMA and the Met in New York, the Museum of Modern Art in Mexico City, the Fogg Museum at Harvard University, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C., the Middleheim Museum in Antwerp, Belgium and the Open-Air Museum in Hakone, Japan.

On 1stDibs, discover a range of Francisco Zúñiga prints, drawings and paintings.

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Artist: Francisco Zúñiga
Francisco Zuniga Original Painting “Brujeria”
By Francisco Zúñiga
Located in Dallas, TX
Francisco Zuniga, Mexican (1912-1998). 'Brujeria', sepia and black charcoal on paper. I spoke with Ariel Zuniga and he was very impressed by this painting saying three or more figures is rare. The scene is of a mother and sick daughter with a witch (Bruja) hovering by her side expelling her maladies. the witch’s eyes are penetrating the daughter at the point of her demise with the mother in black rode mourning the very thought of losing her daughter. A very powerful and moving painting. The color spectrum is impressive combining Sepia and black chalk to create an impressive spectrum of colors and depth in this scene. A COA by Ariel Zuniga will be included with this painting and it will be included in Francisco Zuniga’s upcoming Catalogue Raisonne Vol V. Signed and dated bottom left 1970. Ariel Zuniga kindly authenticated this painting through his Zuniga Laborte A.C. Foundation and will include it in the upcoming Catalogue Raisonne Vol V. Gallery label on verso. Sight Dimensions: 19 Inches x 25 Inches. Framed: 25.5"H x 31.5"W. Condition: painting in very good condition with wear to frame. AVANTIQUES is dedicated to providing an exclusive curated collection of Fine Arts, Paintings, Bronzes, Asian treasures, Art Glass and Antiques. Our inventory represents time-tested investment quality items with everlasting decorative beauty. We look forward to your business and appreciate any reasonable offers. All of our curated items are vetted and guaranteed authentic and as described. Avantiques only deals in original antiques and never reproductions. We stand behind our treasures with a full money back return policy if the items are not as described. Biography Zúñiga was born in Guadalupe, Barrio de San José, Costa Rica on December 27, 1912 to Manuel Maria Zúñiga and María Chavarría, both sculptors. His father worked as a sculptor of religious figures, and in stone work. His artistic inclinations began early and by the age of twelve had already read books on the history of art, artistic anatomy and the life of various Renaissance painters. At age fifteen he began working in his father’s shop. This experience sensitized him to shape and spaces. In 1926 he enrolled in the Escuela de Bellas Artes in Mexico, but left the following year to continue on his own. As part of his self-study, he studied German Expressionism and the writings of Alexander Heilmayer, through which he learned of the work of two French sculptors, Aristide Maillol and Auguste Rodin, coming to appreciate the idea of subordinating technique to expression. Zúñiga’s painting and sculpting work began receiving recognition in 1929. His first stone sculpture won second prize at the Exposición Nacional de Bellas Artes. In the following two years continued to win top prizes at this event. This work made critics recommend him for study abroad. He won first prize in a 1935 Latin American sculpture...
Category

1970s Aesthetic Movement Francisco Zúñiga Paintings

Materials

Paper

Francisco Zuniga Original Pastel Nude Painting Catalogued
By Francisco Zúñiga
Located in Dallas, TX
Francisco Zúñiga (Mexican, 1912-1998) Seated nude with extended legs. This woman with eyes heavy in meditation shows a myriad of emotions including humility, vulnerability and fatigue. The figure makes the viewer appreciate those who do all the mundane and heavy lifting service work for us teaching us sympathy and empathy. Another very powerful work by Zuniga worthy of any art space. Black and sepia Conté Crayons made from a blend of natural pigments, kaolin clay, and graphite on paper. Signed and dated lower left: Zúñiga / 1975 Ariel Zúñiga personally confirmed the authenticity of this drawing when I acquired it. This painting will be included in his forthcoming Francisco Zúñiga: Catalogue Raisonné, Volume V. Sheet Size: 19-5/8 x 25-1/2 inches (49.8 x 64.8 cm) Framed Dimensions 28.5 X 34 Inches Condition: Excellent original condition. Sheet hinged to mat; pinholes to the corner, inherent to the works creation. Original solid wood frame with wear and touch ups. AVANTIQUES is dedicated to providing an exclusive curated collection of Fine Arts, Paintings, Bronzes, Asian treasures, Art Glass and Antiques. Our inventory represents time-tested investment quality items with everlasting decorative beauty. We look forward to your business and appreciate any reasonable offers. All of our curated items are vetted and guaranteed authentic and as described. Avantiques only deals in original antiques and never reproductions. We stand behind our treasures with a full money back return if the items are not as described. José Jesús Francisco Zúñiga Chavarría (December 27, 1912 – August 9, 1998) was a Costa Rican-born Mexican artist, known both for his painting and his sculpture. Journalist Fernando González Gortázar lists Zúñiga as one of the 100 most notable Mexicans of the 20th century, while the Encyclopædia Britannica calls him "perhaps the best sculptor" of the Mexican political modern style. Zúñiga was born in Guadalupe, Barrio de San José, Costa Rica on December 27, 1912 to Manuel Maria Zúñiga and María Chavarría, both sculptors. His father worked as a sculptor of religious figures, and in stone work. His artistic inclinations began early and by the age of twelve had already read books on the history of art, artistic anatomy and the life of various Renaissance painters. At age fifteen he began working in his father’s shop. This experience sensitized him to shape and spaces. In 1926 he enrolled in the Escuela de Bellas Artes in Mexico, but left the following year to continue on his own. As part of his self-study, he studied German Expressionism and the writings of Alexander Heilmayer, through which he learned of the work of two French sculptors, Aristide Maillol and Auguste Rodin, coming to appreciate the idea of subordinating technique to expression. Zúñiga’s painting and sculpting work began receiving recognition in 1929. His first stone sculpture won second prize at the Exposición Nacional de Bellas Artes. In the following two years continued to win top prizes at this event. This work made critics recommend him for study abroad. He won first prize in a 1935 Latin American sculpture...
Category

1970s Modern Francisco Zúñiga Paintings

Materials

Crayon

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Francisco Zúñiga paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Francisco Zúñiga paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Francisco Zúñiga in lithograph and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 21st century and contemporary and is mostly associated with the contemporary style. Not every interior allows for large Francisco Zúñiga paintings, so small editions measuring 32 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Tomasz Bielak, Sally K, and Omari Booker. Francisco Zúñiga paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $2,500 and tops out at $2,500, while the average work can sell for $2,500.

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