Manuel Felguerez
Valparaiso, Zacatecas, Mexico
(1928 – 2020)
Manuel Felguérez Barra was a Mexican painter and sculptor recognized as one of the leading exponents of abstract art in the country. His work, characterized by innovation and a constant search for new expressive forms, left an indelible mark on the Mexican and international art scene.
Born on the San Agustín del Vergel estate in Zacatecas, Felguérez showed a great artistic sensitivity from an early age. He studied at Colegio México and was a member of the Scouts of Mexico, where he met Jorge Ibargüengoitia. He later enrolled at the Academia de San Carlos, but soon dropped out, feeling that traditional teaching did not satisfy his creative restlessness. His artistic training included studies at the Escuela Nacional de Pintura, Escultura y Grabado “La Esmeralda" and the Escuela Nacional de Artes Plásticas at UNAM. Additionally, he honed his technique at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière and the Colarossi Academy in Paris.
Felguérez joined a group of young artists who distanced themselves from the dominant style of traditional Mexican muralism, seeking to renew the artistic language in Mexico. This group became known as the Generación de la Ruptura (Rupture Generation). Alongside figures like José Luis Cuevas, Juan Soriano, and Vicente Rojo, they challenged established conventions and explored new forms of expression, influenced by European avant-garde movements.
Felguérez's work is characterized by geometric abstraction and a deep interest in spatial exploration. His large-format compositions reveal a profound reflection on the nature of form and color. The Mexican artist also experimented with various materials and techniques, incorporating industrial elements and found objects into his works.
Throughout his extensive career, Felguérez received numerous awards, including Second Prize in Painting at the First Triennial of New Delhi, India (1968), the Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship (1975), the National Prize for Science and Arts in the Fine Arts category (1988), the Bellas Artes Medal (2016), and was named an Emeritus Creator of the National System of Art Creators. His works are held in major public and private collections in Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Cuba, Chile, Spain, the United States, India, Japan, Monaco, Nicaragua, and other countries.
In 1998, the Manuel Felguérez Museum of Abstract Art was inaugurated in Zacatecas, a space dedicated to preserving and disseminating his legacy. This museum has become a reference for the study and appreciation of abstract art in Mexico.
Some of his most famous works include:
El Canto al Océano (1963), winner of the silver medal at the II National Sculpture Biennial in 1964. This mural was erected at the Bahía Sports Center in Peñón de los Baños in Mexico City and was rescued by the Museum of Contemporary Art (MUAC) at UNAM prior to the recreation center's demolition.
Mural de hierro (1962), created for the opening of the Diana Cinema, and later transferred to the MUAC.
Puerta 1808 (2007), an outdoor carbon steel sculpture located on Paseo de la Reforma, Mexico City, created for the bicentennial celebrations of Mexico’s independence.
El Barco México 68 (1968), a monumental work made for the 1968 Olympic Games and located in the sculpture garden of the Museum of Modern Art in Mexico City.
La Puerta del Tiempo (2004), a cast sculpture of 26 tons of carbon steel, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the issuance of the Organic Law of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) at the General Rector’s Office.
Manuel Felguerez passed away on June 8, 2020, in Mexico City, leaving behind an invaluable artistic legacy. His work is a testament to the vitality and innovation of 20th-century Mexican art, and his legacy continues to inspire new generations of artists, reaffirming his place as one of the great masters of abstraction in the country.
