Eduardo Chillida

With a varied and pioneering practice that spans small-scale sculpture, plaster work, drawing, engraving and collage, Eduardo Chillida (San Sebastian, 1924) is best known for his prominent monumental public sculptures, mostly displayed in Spain, Germany, France and the USA. Throughout his career, Chillida drew on his fascination for organic form, as well as influences from European and Eastern philosophies, poetry and history, to develop an artistic voice that communicated and resonated with a continent undergoing rapid transformation.Originally a student of architecture, Chillida created art guided by its principles. His formally rigorous constructions in oxidised iron are imbued with tension and poise. Chillida’s contribution towards Spain’s postwar artistic reputation and his personal legacy endure through his work and also through the Foundation which he set up in 2000. In the same year, Chillida opened Chillida Leku, an exhibition space and sculpture park converted from the historic Zabalaga farmhouse in the town of Hernani, near San Sebastian.

Eduardo Chillida (San Sebastian, 1924) received numerous awards throughout his career such as the Gran Premio di Scultura alla Biennale di Venezia (1958), the Carnegie Prize, Carnegie Institute (1964), the Andrew W. Mellon Prize, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation (1978), Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts, Ministry of Culture and Sport (1981), Grand Prix national des Arts et des Lettres, French Ministry of Culture (1984), Prince of Asturias Award for the Arts, Princess of Asturias Foundation (1987) and Praemium Imperiale, the Japan Art Association, Japan (1991) among others. His work is present in numerous museums and public collections.