Guillermo Trujillo
Bio
(1927-2018)Considered the foremost exponent of Panamanian art, he was born in Horconcitos, Chiriquí Province. He studied in Panama City and in 1950 received a scholarship from the Institute of Hispanic Culture to further his studies at the San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Madrid. He returned to Panama, where he earned his architecture degree in 1953. In 1954, he went back to Madrid to study at the Moncloa School of Ceramics. He stayed at the Colegio Mayor de Guadalupe, where he lived until 1958, the year he returned to settle in Panama.
In 1959, he received an honorable mention at the São Paulo Biennial and was the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres from France and the Honorary Art Prize from the Museum of Contemporary Art in Panama. Trujillo incorporated elements of native art into his hieratic figures, reflecting his unique artistic vision. His work includes political satire and the relationship of man with nature.
Statement
His work is characterized by a "modern primitive" style that explores spirituality and the relationship between humankind and nature. He incorporated elements of Ngäbe-Buglé culture, depicting shamans, oracles, hieroglyphs, and hieratic figures that seem to emerge from the jungle. In addition to painting, he excelled in sculpture, drawing, printmaking, and ceramics.
2.5 x 4m / 98.4 x 157 in
