Miguel Ortiz Berrocal Sculpture Astronaut (Homage a Jules Verne) 1979-1980

Born in Malaga Spain Miguel had his first exhibition in Madrid in 1952. In 1954 his work was shown at the Venice Biennale. In 1955 the French Government granted him a scholarship to study in Paris, and in 1959 he did his first "dismountable" sculpture, for which he has become so well known. Miguel Ortiz Berrocal was formally educated in mathematics, chemistry, and the exact sciences. Later he studied architecture. He exhibited several paintings in the Spanish pavilion of the XXVII Venice Biennale. . A retrospective of more than 60 works was mounted at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland. He has been the recipient of several important commissions in Madrid, Seville, Bordeaux, Malaga, and Verona, and has received numerous awards and citations, including the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. In Malaga, a museum was founded a few years ago devoted to the work of Berrocal, He was commissioned by the Spanish Government to create a monument to Picasso in 1976.