Juan O'Gorman
Encyclopedia
Juan O'Gorman was a Mexican
painter and architect
.
O'Gorman was born in Coyoacán
, then a village to the south of Mexico City
and now a borough of the Federal District, to an Irish
father, Cecil Crawford O'Gorman (a painter himself) and a Mexican mother. In the 1920s he studied architecture
at the Academy of San Carlos
, the Art and Architecture school at the National Autonomous University
. He became a well known architect, worked on the new Bank of Mexico building, and under the influence of Le Corbusier
introduced modern functionalist architecture to Mexico City with his 1929 houses at San Ángel
.
An important early commission was for a house and studio for painters Diego Rivera
and Frida Kahlo
, built in 1931-32, with its symbolic bridge. Rivera, in turn, influenced O'Gorman's painting. In 1932, Narciso Bassols
, then Secretary of Education, appointed O'Gorman to the position of Head of Architectural Office of the Ministry of Public Education, where he went on to design and build 26 elementary schools in Mexico City. The schools were built with the philosophy of "eliminating all architectural style and executing constructions technically."
As he matured O'Gorman turned away from strict functionalism
and worked to develop an organic architecture, combining the influence of Frank Lloyd Wright
with traditional Mexican constructions.
His paintings often treated Mexican history, landscape, and legends. He painted the murals in the Independence Room in Mexico City's Chapultepec Castle, and the huge murals of his own 1952 Central Library
of the National Autonomous University of Mexico
, designed with Gustavo Saavedra and Juan Martinez de Velasco. See also Mexican Muralism
.
In 1959, together with fellow artists, Raúl Anguiano
, Jesús Guerrero Galván
, and Carlos Orozco Romero
, Juan O'Gorman founded the militant Unión de Pintores y Grabadores de México.
He died on January 17, 1982, as a result of suicide. Authorities believe the artist grew despondent after being diagnosed with a heart ailment which curtailed his work. O'Gorman, who was 76 years old, was found dead at his home.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
painter and architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
.
Biography
Coyoacán
Coyoacán refers to one of the sixteen boroughs of the Federal District of Mexico City as well as the former village which is now the borough’s “historic center.” The name comes from Nahuatl and most likely means “place of coyotes,” when the Aztecs named a pre-Hispanic village on the southern shore...
, then a village to the south of Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
and now a borough of the Federal District, to an Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
father, Cecil Crawford O'Gorman (a painter himself) and a Mexican mother. In the 1920s he studied architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
at the Academy of San Carlos
Academy of San Carlos
The Academy of San Carlos is located at 22 Academia Street in just northeast of the main plaza of Mexico City. It was the first major art academy and the first art museum in the Americas. It was founded in 1781 as the School of Engraving and moved to the Academia Street location about 10 years later...
, the Art and Architecture school at the National Autonomous University
Unam
UNAM or UNaM may refer to:* National University of Misiones, a National University in Posadas, Argentina*National Autonomous University of Mexico , the large public autonomous university based in Mexico City...
. He became a well known architect, worked on the new Bank of Mexico building, and under the influence of Le Corbusier
Le Corbusier
Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, better known as Le Corbusier , was a Swiss-born French architect, designer, urbanist, writer and painter, famous for being one of the pioneers of what now is called modern architecture. He was born in Switzerland and became a French citizen in 1930...
introduced modern functionalist architecture to Mexico City with his 1929 houses at San Ángel
San Ángel
San Ángel is a colonia or neighborhood of Mexico City, located in the southwest in Álvaro Óbregon borough. Historically, it was a rural community, called Tenanitla in the pre Hispanic period. Its current name is derived from the El Carmen monastery school called San Ángel Mártir...
.
An important early commission was for a house and studio for painters Diego Rivera
Diego Rivera
Diego María de la Concepción Juan Nepomuceno Estanislao de la Rivera y Barrientos Acosta y Rodríguez was a prominent Mexican painter born in Guanajuato, Guanajuato, an active communist, and husband of Frida Kahlo . His large wall works in fresco helped establish the Mexican Mural Movement in...
and Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo de Rivera was a Mexican painter, born in Coyoacán, and perhaps best known for her self-portraits....
, built in 1931-32, with its symbolic bridge. Rivera, in turn, influenced O'Gorman's painting. In 1932, Narciso Bassols
Narciso Bassols
Narciso Bassols García was a Mexican lawyer, socialist politician, ambassador to France, Russia, and the United Kingdom, and professor of law at the National University of Mexico. He co-founded the Popular Party , and the League of Political Action...
, then Secretary of Education, appointed O'Gorman to the position of Head of Architectural Office of the Ministry of Public Education, where he went on to design and build 26 elementary schools in Mexico City. The schools were built with the philosophy of "eliminating all architectural style and executing constructions technically."
As he matured O'Gorman turned away from strict functionalism
Functionalism (architecture)
Functionalism, in architecture, is the principle that architects should design a building based on the purpose of that building. This statement is less self-evident than it first appears, and is a matter of confusion and controversy within the profession, particularly in regard to modern...
and worked to develop an organic architecture, combining the influence of Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
with traditional Mexican constructions.
His paintings often treated Mexican history, landscape, and legends. He painted the murals in the Independence Room in Mexico City's Chapultepec Castle, and the huge murals of his own 1952 Central Library
Central Library (UNAM)
Central Library , is the main library in the Ciudad Universitaria Campus of the National Autonomous University of Mexico . It holds one of the largest collections in Mexico...
of the National Autonomous University of Mexico
National Autonomous University of Mexico
The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México is a university in Mexico. UNAM was founded on 22 September 1910 by Justo Sierra as a liberal alternative to the Roman Catholic-sponsored Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) (National Autonomous...
, designed with Gustavo Saavedra and Juan Martinez de Velasco. See also Mexican Muralism
Mexican Muralism
Mexican muralism is a Mexican art movement. The most important period of this movement took place primarily from the 1920s to the 1960s, though it exerted an influence on later generations of Mexican artists...
.
In 1959, together with fellow artists, Raúl Anguiano
Raúl Anguiano
José Raúl Anguiano Valadez was a Mexican critical realist painter, draftsman, muralist, and engraver, as well as a member of the second generation of the so-called "Mexican School of Painting" in Mexican art, along with Juan O'Gorman, Judith Gutierrez, Jorge González Camarena, José Chávez Morado,...
, Jesús Guerrero Galván
Jesús Guerrero Galván
-Biography:Guerrero Galván was born in Tonalá, Jalisco, in 1910. He studied at the San Antonio Art School in Texas and in 1928 he moved to Guadalajara, where he made his first mural, to study at the Escuela de Pintura Libre. He lived in Mexico City in the 1930s and became quite known for his...
, and Carlos Orozco Romero
Carlos Orozco Romero
Carlos Orozco Romero was a Mexican artist.Orozco was self-trained, and was awarded a scholarship for a study trip to Europe in 1921. In 1939 he achieved a Guggenheim Fellowship and travelled to New York City in 1941...
, Juan O'Gorman founded the militant Unión de Pintores y Grabadores de México.
He died on January 17, 1982, as a result of suicide. Authorities believe the artist grew despondent after being diagnosed with a heart ailment which curtailed his work. O'Gorman, who was 76 years old, was found dead at his home.