Jose Gamarra
Bio
Born in Montevideo in 1934, José Gamarra is painter known for his lush, ethereal landscapes, often infused with rich tones of green in precise brushstrokes that encompass the entire composition. He moved to France in 1963, after studying at the Museum of Modern Art in Sao Paolo and participating in the III Biennial of Young Painters in Paris. Today, Gamarra’s work is included in major museums, including the Museum of Modern Art, New York and the Musee d’Art Moderne, Paris; as well as prestigious public and private collections in South America, North American and Europe
Statement
Gamarra is recognized for his historical and mythological paintings and illustrations. He studied painting and engraving at the School of Fine Arts in Montevideo. He traveled extensively through out South America, Cuba and Europe. Gamarra received the Tercer Prize at the 1st Bienal of Cordoba in 1962 and represented Uruguay in the 1964 Venice Biennale. Diverging from his earlier abstract work, his later, more figurative work depicts jungle landscapes and settings for historical incidents and myth. He became involved with the study of animation and co-founded the Automat group in 1967. His early work was abstract, but after moving to France in 1987 he began to paint large meticulously rendered landscapes of the South American jungles that serve as a stage for historical, political, revolutionary stories of Latin American history and myth.
2.5 x 4m / 98.4 x 157 in