Physichromie 1382

Carlos Cruz-Diez spent his life as a passionate painter and enjoyed a very colorful life. Born in Caracas, Venezuela in 1923, as a boy he loved drawing in class, playing at his father’s desk with his rubber stamp and observing the world around him.

Cruz-Diez started to form his discourse and headed to Europe in 1955; first to El Masnou near Barcelona from which he traveled often to Paris, the place to be for artists and intellectuals. In Paris he was happy to discover that his thinking was in line with a lot of progressive artists from different countries. This group was creating a tendency that Vasarely called the kinetic art movement.

Over a period of almost seven decades of research, refinement and discovery, Cruz-Diez never strayed from his original discourse. He remained amazed with life, passionate about his work and with a childlike enthusiasm that was utterly contagious. His ateliers in Paris, Caracas and Panama are testament to his philosophy of encouraging alternative ways of thinking and gave him the extra pairs of hands he needed to handcraft his vision at a prolific rate, that always lagged behind that of his imagination.

To date Cruz-Diez has been featured in 1544 collective exhibitions, 351 solo exhibitions, has constructed 177 architectural works, received 78 awards, created 101 ephemeral events and has works on display in the permanent collection of 96 museums. All of which in 70 countries, and counting.

SOURCE: Cruz-Diez Foundation