Eduardo Chillida

Date of Birth: January 10, 1924

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Date of Death: August 19, 2002

Biography

Eduardo Chillida was a renowned Spanish Basque sculptor born on January 10, 1924, in San Sebastián, Spain. Initially, Chillida pursued architecture at the University of Madrid, but he left his studies in 1947 to focus on art. His interest in sculpture began during his stay in Paris, where he befriended other artists and began working with plaster and clay. He returned to Spain in 1951, where he transitioned to working with iron and steel, materials that would become central to his oeuvre. Chillida’s works are characterized by their monumental scale and intricate exploration of space, form, and material. He is perhaps best known for his series “Peine del Viento” (The Comb of the Wind), a set of iron sculptures installed in the rocks along the Bay of Biscay in San Sebastián. Over his career, Chillida received numerous awards, including the Grand Prix of Sculpture at the 1958 Venice Biennale, and his works have been exhibited in major galleries and museums worldwide. Chillida passed away on August 19, 2002, in San Sebastián, but his influence on the world of sculpture remains profound. His legacy is preserved through the Museo Chillida-Leku in Hernani, Spain, dedicated to his work.

5 Interesting Facts about Eduardo Chillida

1. Eduardo Chillida initially studied architecture before switching to sculpture.

2. He was awarded the Grand Prix of Sculpture at the 1958 Venice Biennale.

3. Chillida’s “Peine del Viento” sculptures are a significant landmark in San Sebastián.

4. He worked with various materials, including iron, steel, alabaster, and wood.

5. The Museo Chillida-Leku in Hernani, Spain, is dedicated to his work, showcasing many of his sculptures in an open-air setting.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Eduardo Chillida

1. “Space is the true protagonist of my work.”

2. “I am interested in space and its limits, and thus I experiment with the space confined within my sculptures.”

3. “Art must be an integral part of life, something that people can live with and reflect upon.”

4. “The material is not the most important thing, what matters is the idea, the concept.”

5. “My works are the fruit of a long reflection, a slow maturation that is not finished yet.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

The highest net worth Eduardo Chillida achieved was estimated to be around $10 million.

Children

Eduardo Chillida had eight children with his wife, Pilar Belzunce. Their names are Eduardo, Ignacio, Luis, Pedro, Susana, and the triplets: María, Carmen, and Pilar.