Known as one of the most important Expressionist artists to emerge from Latin America, Francisco Zúñiga is remembered for his monumental sculptures, figurative paintings and prints, nude drawings and portraits of Central America’s rural indigenous women.
Born in San José, Costa Rica, in 1912, Zúñiga’s exposure to artistic sculpture began at the age of 13, when he worked with his father, Manuel Maria Zúñiga, carving religious figures for local churches. Spurred by a growing interest in art, Zúñiga attended San José’s School of Fine Arts, where he became influenced by classical, renaissance figurative art. After winning several local awards for his prodigious talent, Zúñiga left San José for Mexico City in 1936.
In Mexico City, he attended La Esmeralda, the painting and sculpture school of the National Institute of Fine Arts. There, Zúñiga studied under sculptor Oliverio Martinez and painter Manuel Rodriguez Lozano.
In 1938, Zúñiga joined the faculty at La Esmeralda, where he taught sculpture and painting until 1970. Meanwhile, during the early 1940s, Zúñiga’s works began to attract the attention of art critics in the United States as well as important collectors. In 1941, the Arts Club of Chicago included him as part of their “Thirteen Mexican Artists” group show. The following year, Alfred Barr, director of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, purchased one of his stone sculptures for MoMA’s permanent collection. Then, in 1943, New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art acquired two of Zúñiga’s drawings.
Throughout most of his career, Zúñiga limited his subject matter to indigenous peasant women. However, he experimented with working with a variety of materials for his sculptures — bronze, alabaster, plaster, marble and modeling clay — and sought new media to create his art. (He made his first lithograph at age 60.)
Zúñiga won countless accolades in his lifetime. He won international awards for 35 of his public sculptures along with other works, and in 1992, he won Mexico’s highest cultural award, the Premio Nacional de Calidad.
Even after his death in 1998, Zúñiga’s legacy lives on. His sculptures, drawings, paintings and prints are found in museums around the world, including MoMA and the Met in New York, the Museum of Modern Art in Mexico City, the Fogg Museum at Harvard University, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C., the Middleheim Museum in Antwerp, Belgium and the Open-Air Museum in Hakone, Japan.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of Francisco Zúñiga prints, drawings and paintings.
Cinco Mujeres Sentadas, Lithograph by Francisco Zuniga
By Francisco Zúñiga
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Dated 1971, We offer this rare Litograph by Francisco Zuniga (1912 - 1998), Title, Cinco Mujeres Sentadas signed and dedicated to Dick Hesket in pencil. Note: For better transportat...
Cotton
Francisco Zúñiga Offset Reproduction Part of 20 Drawings Portfolio, Martha 1974.
By Francisco Zúñiga
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This exceptional piece is an official offset reproduction Titled "Martha" from the Zúñiga, 20 Drawings portfolio, published in 1974 by Misrachi, 2,000 Editions. Francisco Zúñiga, ren...
Canvas
Francisco Zuñiga, Desnuda Signed Lower Right Conte Crayon on Paper
By Francisco Zúñiga
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Francisco Zuñiga(1912-1998) Desnuda signed lower right conte crayon on paper "sight size" Measures: 18 in. by 27 in. (45.72 cm. x 68.58 cm.) size ...
Paper
$23,374
H 16.93 in W 10.83 in D 0.04 in
KEITH HARING Marker Pen Drawing on Image by Kim Basinger, Signed, 1987
By Keith Haring
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Unique piece. Rare drawing - Keith Haring - on a magazine page representing the American actress Kim Basinger. The drawing appears on the back of the page, which features a second ph...
Paper
$176Sale Price|20% Off
H 7 in W 10 in D 0.07 in
Original Drawing of The Grand Canal, Venice by Robert Hindmarsh Grundy, C.1850
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
A beautiful drawing of The Grand Canal Fabulous quality. On wove quality paper/card Signed on verso. Unframed Free shipping *Robert Hindmarsh Grundy...
Paper
$5,785Sale Price / set|22% Off
H 31.5 in W 27.5 in D 4.25 in
Fine Pair of 19th Century Porcelain Plaques of George and Martha Washington
By KPM Porcelain
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine pair of Continental 19th century porcelain plaques each depicting George Washington, the first President of the United States and his wife Martha Washington within an ornate V...
Porcelain, Gesso, Giltwood
Drawing, Boat Scene by James Pyne, RA '1800-1870'
Located in Kittery Point, ME
Boat Scene, Sorrento, pencil. Provenance (label at back of Drawing), William Drummond St. James's, London.
Paper
$595
H 11.5 in W 9.5 in D 0.13 in
Fine Graphite Drawing of an Iris - Initialed L.T. - Canada - Late 20th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
Fine vintage graphite pencil drawing on paper - featuring an Iris flower in full bloom - drawing contained in a vintage matte - initialed L.T. lower right (unknown/unidentified artis...
Paper
$239Sale Price|20% Off
H 28 in W 20 in D 2 in
Friendly Animals Vintage Poster, Hand-Crafted, 1920s, USA, 28x20"
Located in Port Washington, NY
This vintage poster comes from European Advertising throughout the years of 1920. 1930, and 1940. Pictured above is a woman surrounded by a bunch of furry friends.
Other
Watercolor by John Varley, 1812
By Ernest William Varley
Located in Kittery Point, ME
'Llanberis Lake at the Foot of Mount Snowdon' in Wales. Watercolor on paper, signed and dated "J. Varley 1812" ll, identifying info on verso. sight size: 8 x 19 3/4 in. John Varley is known as an English landscape painter in watercolor and a close friend of William Blake. Varley represents the transition between tinted topographical drawing and the bolder, more fully developed manner of watercolor painting characteristic of the 19th century. As well as being a leading painter, he was the most popular and enthusiastic teacher of his day: his pupils included Cox, De Wint, Linnell, Mulready (his brother-in-law), and Samuel Palmer, and he published various instructional works, including one with Blake. In his early years Varley was influenced stylistically by the work of Thomas Girtin...
Paper
$296Sale Price|25% Off
H 18 in W 23.75 in D 0.07 in
Original Drawing Nude Woman, French Unsigned on Aged Paper
Located in Miami, FL
Original well drawn image of a nude woman reclining, obviously posing for the artist. Aged paper. Needs a nice frame. Good condition consistent with age and materials. Some slight ...
Paper
$9,102
H 8.27 in W 11.82 in D 0.79 in
Original Graffiti from the 1970s on paper "Sculls & Bones" by Adolf Frankl
Located in Vienna, AT
Original drawing, felt-pen, signed, framed, 21 x 30 cm Early Graffiti from the 1970s.
Felt
Vintage Ivan Jordell Abstract Pastel On Paper Artwork
By Ivan Jordell
Located in Atlanta, GA
Vintage Ivan Jordell Abstract Pastel On Paper Artwork New Mat with original frame. Image Size: 10" x 12"
Paper
Midcentury Reproduction Hanging Plaster Lion Head
Located in Dallas, TX
Midcentury reproduction of hanging lion head made out of plaster.
Plaster
Antique Print of Part of an Excavated Elephant Tusk
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print of part of an excavated elephant's tusk. This print originates from 'Bilderbuch fur Kinder' by F.J. Bertuch. Friedrich Johann Bertuch (1747-1822) was a German publisher...
Paper
Francisco Zuniga "La Calera" Bronze Sculpture
By Francisco Zúñiga
Located in Astoria, NY
Francisco Zuniga (Costa Rican/Mexican, 1912-1998) "La Calera" [The Lime Seller] Patinated Bronze Sculpture, 1977, signed, dated, and numbered edition "IV/VI" to reverse, mounted on a...
Marble, Bronze
Artwork by Francisco Zuniga La Abuela
By Francisco Zúñiga
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
Original Francisc Zuniga Lithograph. Low number 38/100. Signed and dated 1981.
Paper
Signed Francisco Zuniga, 'Tres Mujeres'. Editioned Lithograph, 1981
By Francisco Zúñiga
Located in Kingston, NY
Signed Francisco Zuniga (Costa Rican/Mexican, 1912-1998). 'Tres Mujeres', lithograph. Pencil signed, dated '81, and numbered 28/100 lower left. Mounted on board, float framed in metal moulding between two sheets of glass. Francisco Zungia was a Costa Rican/Mexican artist known both for his painting and his sculpture. In 1926 he enrolled in the escuela de bellas artes in mexico, but left the following year to continue on his own. As part of his self-study, he studied german expressionism and the writings of Alexander Heilmayer, through which he learned of the work of two french sculptors, Aristide Maillol and Auguste Rodin, coming to appreciate the idea of subordinating technique to expression. In the 1930's, he began to research pre-hispanic art...
Glass, Paper
Francisco Zuniga Original Color Lithograph, 1983, “Mujer con Olla”
By Francisco Zúñiga
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Large and beautiful original color lithograph by Mexican Modernist, Francisco Zuniga (1912-1998) Matted, unframed and in excellent condition. Signed and dated lower right. Measure...
Paper
Francisco Zúñiga Bronze Patinated Sculpture on Marble Base
By Francisco Zúñiga
Located in Miami, FL
Francisco Zúñiga Bronze Patinated Sculpture on Marble Base Offered for sale is an original Francisco Zúñiga (1912 - 1998) bronze sculpture with a green patina depicting a mother a...
Marble, Bronze
Sold
H 35.75 in W 46.25 in D 2 in
Lithograph Drawing "Grupo de Mujeres Sentadas, II" by Francisco Zuniga
By Francisco Zúñiga
Located in San Diego, CA
Francisco Zuniga "Grupo de Mujeres Sentadas, II" 1976 Charcoal and pastel on paper lithograph Signed, dated and numbered 5 / 125 Printed and published by Kyron, with blind stamp lowe...
Paper
Original Charcoal and Pastel Drawing by Francisco Zuniga
By Francisco Zúñiga
Located in San Diego, CA
Francisco Zuniga 1964 Signed Charcoal and pastel on paper Signed and dated lower right Paper size: approx 24.75" x 18.5" Framed size: approx 36" x 30" Internationally accla...
Paper
Francisco Zuniga Mexican Artist Watercolor, 1966, "The Fruit Vendors"
By Francisco Zúñiga
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Large and beautiful original watercolor by Mexican Modernist, Francisco Zuniga (1912-1998) Framed and in excellent condition. Signed and dated lower left. Measures 20" H x 26" W. F...
Paper
Surrealist Figurative Bronze Signed Zuñiga and Dated, 1977
By Francisco Zúñiga
Located in Miami, FL
Surrealist Figurative Bronze Signed Zuñiga and Dated, 1977 Offered for sale is a rare estate find of a gilt and patinated bronze of a surrealist standing figure with grotesque featu...
Bronze
Francisco Zuniga Bronze, 1965, Titled "Ritual"
By Francisco Zúñiga
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Zuniga bronze, edition: 6. Titled "Ritual" No. 6 of 6, No. 448 and pictured in Catalog Raisonne Volume 1. Measures: 10.75" H x 9.5" L x 9" W not including the wood plinth. Signed ...
Bronze
Francisco Zuniga Signed, Dated and Numbered Lithograph
By Francisco Zúñiga
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very finely framed Francisco Zuniga signed Lithograph "Mujeres con Nino en la Puerta dated and numbered: 1977 #60/100. Print measurement: 23 x 31. From the estate of Verna Harrah.
Paper
Francisco Zuniga "Dos Mujeres Sentadas" Signed
By Francisco Zúñiga
Located in Van Nuys, CA
This item is 25% off in celebration of Harveys on Beverly's 50th Year Anniversary! This is an absolutely magnificent original museum quality signed crayon and pastel on gray paper d...
Paper