Rufino Tamayo
(1899-1991)
Nacido el 25 de agosto 1899 a de padres Mextizo en Oxaca de Juarez, Mexico. El movió al D.M. con su padre después del murió de su madre en 1911. Comenzó a estudiar a la Escuela de Bellas Artes en 1917. El experimentó con el cubismo, el impressionismo y el fauvrismo, pero siempre con un estilo netamente Mexicano.
After the Mexican revolution, Tamayo concentrated on creating his own identity in his art. He believed in a traditional Mexico, and it was reflected in his art. He wasn’t moved by the popular trend of political art that his counterparts were following, such as Jose Clement Orozco and Diego Riviera. Because of this he was seen as a “traitor” to the political cause, but he was only being true to himself.
In 1926, he left Mexico because he felt that he could no longer express himself freely there with his art. He moved to New York, and three years later was recognized in Mexico as being very individual, and became quite popular. Tamayo returned for a show in Mexico and was greeted with high praise.
Through the course of his career, Rufino and another artist named Lea Remba created a new type if art called “Mixografia”, artwork printed on paper, but with texture and depth. This along with his murals made him quite famous, but that was never what Tamayo cared about. His integrity and individuality were what was key to his artwork and why he’s so well known.
In 1937 Tamayo moved back to New York with his wife, Olga. He had his first show at the Valentine Gallery. Other galleries soon followed suit, such as the Knoedler and Marlborough galleries. This only increased his popularity.
Rufino Tamayo was always very controversial, but ever remained popular. Uncomfortable with the political differences in the art community, he moved to Paris in 1949, and remained there for 10 years, learning about European techniques.
Tamayo returned to Mexico for the rest of his life in 1959, where he built a museum in his hometown of...