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Pedro Friedeberg Paintings

Mexican, b. 1936

The sculptor and painter Pedro Friedeberg works in a richly detailed, Surrealist and eccentric artistic style that blends influences from neoclassical art, M.C. Escher and native Mesoamerican symbolism. He is best known for his Hand chair — a functional sculpture that is an icon of design-as-art.

Friedeberg was born in Florence to German parents and moved with his mother to Mexico at the outset of World War II. As a university student in Mexico City in the 1950s, he initially studied architecture, but his designs for fantastical buildings ran afoul of his rationalist, Bauhaus-oriented teachers.

By chance, Friedeberg’s drawings came to the attention of Mathias Goeritz, the German-born Dadaist painter and sculptor. He encouraged Friedeberg and made him a protégé. Friedeberg credits his mentor for instilling in him a fanatical attention to detail in his work. Friedeberg produced his first Hand chair in 1961, and has since created numerous iterations. He has also made several variants using other human limbs in different functional forms such as tables and clocks.

While Friedeberg’s sculptures have a gentle character that is sometimes described as spiritual, his paintings and prints are something entirely different. He employs deep perspective to create hypnotic, painstakingly rendered canvases that suggest rooms and cityscapes.

Whatever the medium, Friedeberg’s work is arresting and instantly recognizable. The Hand chair, though familiar, remains a captivating piece — both furniture and artwork — that stands apart in any interior. Examples are often priced between $20,000 and $30,000, depending on formal variations (such as a foot-shaped pedestal), material and condition. Smaller functional items such as tabletop clocks bring about $9,000. His paintings and drawings require space; they are meant to be contemplated. Prices on original examples start at about $30,000; prints generally sell in the region of $900.

As you will see on 1stDibs, the art and design of Pedro Friedeberg is singular and memorable.

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Artist: Pedro Friedeberg
"Laberinto serpentino" Serpentine maze - geometric surrealist print, op-art feel
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
Pedro Friedeberg is an artist and designer from Mexico of Italian origin, known for his surreal work full of lines, colors, and ancient religious symbols. His best-known piece is the “ManoChair”: a sculpture/chair designed to sit on the palm, using the fingers as backrests and armrests. Friedeberg began to study architecture but did not finish his studies. He began to produce designs that went against the conventional forms of the 1950s, some as incredible as houses with artichoke roofs. His work caught the attention of Mathías Goeritz who encouraged him to continue his career as an artist. Friedeberg became part of a group of Mexican surrealist...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Pedro Friedeberg Paintings

Materials

Cotton, Paper, Screen

Colesteroles Contra Triglirecidos
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
Original Pedro Friedeberg painting "Colesteroles Contra Triglirecidos". Signed by the artist. 29 ½ x 39 1/3 in. image size.
Category

2010s Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Paintings

Materials

Acrylic, Board, Ink

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Previously Available Items
El Hipopótamo from the book "La Jungla" Sonetos de Guadalupe Amor
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Located in Cuauhtemoc, Ciudad de México
The Hippopotamus Pedro Friedeberg Original Ink on paper. This image belongs to the book "La Jungla" (The Jungle) sonnets by Guadalupe Amor. With Certificate of Authenticity from th...
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Decapitaciones Trantamorficas
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Cuauhtemoc, Ciudad de México
"TRANTAMORPHIC BEHEADINGS" Pedro Friedeberg Original Mixed media on paper. Pedro Friedeberg is a Mexican artist and designer known for his surrealist work filled with lines colors a...
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Siluetas Peligrosas
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Cuauhtemoc, Ciudad de México
"DANGEROUS SILHOUETTES" Mixed media on Museum board. Pedro Friedeberg is a Mexican artist and designer known for his surrealist work filled with lines colors and ancient and religi...
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Mixed Media, Illustration Board

Capilla Particular
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Cuauhtemoc, Ciudad de México
"PARTICULAR CHAPEL" Mixed media on Museum board. Pedro Friedeberg is a Mexican artist and designer known for his surrealist work filled with lines colors and ancient and religious ...
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Salón de los Espejos Negros
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Cuauhtemoc, Ciudad de México
"BLACK MIRRORS HALL" Mixed media on Museum board. Pedro Friedeberg is a Mexican artist and designer known for his surrealist work filled with lines colors and ancient and religious...
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"Four Acrobats in Six Positions" Geometric Surrealist Print Edition 1 of 50
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Houston, TX
Geometric patterns with diamonds and other shapes. Painting consist of red figures that appear to be standing on chairs or hanging off of them. Print is the 1st edition of 50 prints. Artist signed the print in to bottom right corner. Print is framed in a gold frame with a cream matte. Artist Biography: Pedro Friedenberg is a Mexican artist known for his surrealist works that consist of ancient and religious symbols. He was born in Florence, Italy and escaped Europe at the beginning of the Second World War. He designed sculptural furniture in the shape of hands and feet. Friederberg studied as an architect but instead began to draw and designs surrealist inspired works. His work caught the attention of artist Mathias Goeritz who encouraged him to continue as an artist. Friedeberg became part of a group of surrealist artists in Mexico which included Leonora Carrington and Alice Rahon...
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1970s Abstract Geometric Pedro Friedeberg Paintings

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Frenologia del Feronom Pleonasmico y/o Energumenico
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
Original Pedro Friedeberg painting "Frenologia del Feronom Pleonasmico y/o Energumenico". Signed by the artist.
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Ink, Acrylic, Wood Panel

Composition with pyramids
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Greenwich, CT
original painting by surrealist Mexican Artist Pedro Friedeberg (b. 1936) Date : circa 1960's Year: 1969 Medium: oil, pen and ink on board Size: 15 x 15 inches ( 21 x 21 in. w. frame...
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No me hables de eso
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
Original Pedro Friedeberg painting "No me hables de eso". Signed by the artist. Cloth mat. 13.75 x 10.5 image.
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2010s Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Paintings

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Globalizacion Euforica
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
Signed gicleé/ edition of 100 "Globalizacion Euforica". Includes signature Friedeberg striped Gold leaf frame 28.5 x 28.5 in. image with frame
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2010s Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Paintings

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Ink, Wood, Acrylic

Ni Idea
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
Pedro Friedeberg painting "Ni Idea". Ink and acrylic on museum board. Signed by the artist. 23 x 23 in. image.
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Ni Idea
H 30.25 in W 30.25 in D 1.5 in
Ni Idea
By Pedro Friedeberg
Located in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
Pedro Friedeberg painting "Ni Idea". Ink and acrylic on museum board. Signed by the artist. Image 23 x 23 in.
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21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Pedro Friedeberg Paintings

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Acrylic, Board, Ink

Ni Idea
H 30.25 in W 30.25 in D 2 in

Pedro Friedeberg paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Pedro Friedeberg paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Pedro Friedeberg in acrylic paint, ink, paint and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 21st century and contemporary and is mostly associated with the Surrealist style. Not every interior allows for large Pedro Friedeberg paintings, so small editions measuring 38 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Oleg Turchin, Igor Samsonov, Ferjo, and Fernando de Jesus Oliveira. Pedro Friedeberg paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $2,600 and tops out at $31,000, while the average work can sell for $29,000.

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