Antonio Pujía
Encyclopedia
Antonio Pujía is a well-known Argentine sculptor.
, a small town in the Calabria
region of Italy
, in 1929, and relocated to Buenos Aires
with his mother in 1937. Pujía began attending the city's numerous ateliers in 1943, developing an interest in painting and sculpture; among his early mentors was the noted realist sculptor Rogelio Yrurtia
, and in 1954 Pujía was named professor of drawing at the Prilidiano Pueyrredón School of Fine Arts
.
Continuing to teach, Pujía won a 1956 competition for the post of director of the newly created sculpture department of the Colón Theatre. He obtained a grand prize at the 1959 Municipal Salon, and in the 1964 National Arts Fund festival, as well as his first personal exhibit, at the prestigious Witcomb Gallery, in 1965. Pujía was close to a number of the opera house's ballet company
dancers, and he created a bust of Norma Fontenla
(on display at the theatre's foyer). He established his own atelier, and left his post at the Colón Teatre in 1970 to teach at his studio, full-time.
His 1970 work, Biafra (in reference to the Biafran War), dispayed a departure in his style, which began to dramatize social and global ills. His 1975 exhibit at the San Martín Cultural Center
was a particular success, and Pujía added his entire warehouse of works to the initial display. He lived in Spain
from 1975 to 1976, working in the renowned Escorial Museum. Pujía later created medals to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the founding of Buenos Aires (1980) and the return of democracy with the inaugural of Raúl Alfonsín
(1983).
Among his most successful later series was that of his "Homage to the Woman," which he began in 2004. Suspending his teaching activities, he devoted subsequent years to developing the project.
Life and work
Antonio Pujía was born in PoliaPolia
Polia is a comune in the Province of Vibo Valentia in the Italian region Calabria, located about 30 km southwest of Catanzaro and about 20 km northeast of Vibo Valentia. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 1,224 and an area of 31.8 km².Polia's origins date back to V|VIII...
, a small town in the Calabria
Calabria
Calabria , in antiquity known as Bruttium, is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula. The capital city of Calabria is Catanzaro....
region of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, in 1929, and relocated to Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
with his mother in 1937. Pujía began attending the city's numerous ateliers in 1943, developing an interest in painting and sculpture; among his early mentors was the noted realist sculptor Rogelio Yrurtia
Rogelio Yrurtia
Rogelio Yrurtia was a renowned Argentine sculptor of the Realist school.-Life and work:Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina to Basque immigrants in 1879, Rogelio Yrurtia enrolled in the local Society for the Promotion of Fine Arts in 1899. A talented student, he quickly earned a scholarship on which...
, and in 1954 Pujía was named professor of drawing at the Prilidiano Pueyrredón School of Fine Arts
Instituto Universitario Nacional del Arte
The National University of the Arts is an Argentine university established in 1996 as an incorporation of various national institutions dedicated to the teaching of fine arts....
.
Continuing to teach, Pujía won a 1956 competition for the post of director of the newly created sculpture department of the Colón Theatre. He obtained a grand prize at the 1959 Municipal Salon, and in the 1964 National Arts Fund festival, as well as his first personal exhibit, at the prestigious Witcomb Gallery, in 1965. Pujía was close to a number of the opera house's ballet company
Ballet company
A ballet company is a group of dancers who perform ballet, plus managerial and support staff. Most major ballet companies employ dancers on a year-round basis, except in the United States, where contracts for part of the year are the norm...
dancers, and he created a bust of Norma Fontenla
Norma Fontenla
Norma Fontenla was an Argentine prima ballerina.-Life and work:Fontenla was born in 1930, and while still a child, began attending the National Conservatory of Music and Scenic Art, in Buenos Aires. She was later accepted into the dance school of the Colón Theatre, the nation's premier opera house...
(on display at the theatre's foyer). He established his own atelier, and left his post at the Colón Teatre in 1970 to teach at his studio, full-time.
His 1970 work, Biafra (in reference to the Biafran War), dispayed a departure in his style, which began to dramatize social and global ills. His 1975 exhibit at the San Martín Cultural Center
Centro Cultural General San Martín
The General San Martín Cultural Centre is a cultural centre located in Buenos Aires, Argentina near the major thoroughfare Corrientes Avenue.It is run by the city government, and hosts diverse cultural and artistic events...
was a particular success, and Pujía added his entire warehouse of works to the initial display. He lived in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
from 1975 to 1976, working in the renowned Escorial Museum. Pujía later created medals to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the founding of Buenos Aires (1980) and the return of democracy with the inaugural of Raúl Alfonsín
Raúl Alfonsín
Raúl Ricardo Alfonsín was an Argentine lawyer, politician and statesman, who served as the President of Argentina from December 10, 1983, to July 8, 1989. Alfonsín was the first democratically-elected president of Argentina following the military government known as the National Reorganization...
(1983).
Among his most successful later series was that of his "Homage to the Woman," which he began in 2004. Suspending his teaching activities, he devoted subsequent years to developing the project.