Biografía:
San Jose, 1912 Francisco Zuñiga Chavarria studies in the Fine Arts School of San Jose and begins painting in oils. During the period from 1930 to 1934, he continues as painter and makes several carveings and his first sculptures. He gets several prizes in Central American events. His most important and recognized sculpture is “Maternidad” (1935) carved in rock and located in Cartago. In 1938, he works in the workshop of Manuel Rodriguez Lozano. He founds the Mexican Society of Sculptures with Romulo Rosso, Guillermo Ruiz, Juan Cruz and Fidias Elizondo. He enters the team of war materials smelting, with the master Guillermo Ruiz. In 1939, he joins to the works in the Monument to the Revolution as personal assistant to sculptor Oliverio Martinez. He also makes an important sculptural group in Zacatecas (1952): Monument to Ramon Lopez Velarde and a group for the Bank of Mexico in Veracruz. In 1954, he makes the reliefs of the Comunications and Transports Department of Costa Rica. He also heads the department of ceramics of La Esmeralda. He participates, in 1957, in the Annual Hall of Sculpture in Mexico and receives the Acquisition Prize for his work “La Hamaca”, which was an important step for his development as sculptor. Zuñiga carries out, in 1965, his first individual exhibition in Scottsdale, Arizona, United States; and, 1969, his first retrospective of his personal work, in the Museum of Modern Art in Mexico City. During 1973, he works his first lithographs in San Francisco, California with Editions Press in the project: Mexican Masters Suite, which includes works of Jose Luis Cuevas, Rufino Tamayo and David A. Sequeiros. The University of Tucson, Arizona, publishes in 1980 the book: “Francisco Zuñiga, escultor: conversaciones e interpretaciones”, by Sheldon Reich. Misrachi editions of Mexico, publishes a second complete monograph of his work. He participates in the Third Biennal of Sculpture in Japan and receives the “Kotaro Takamura Prize”, with his work "Grupo frente al mar", in 1984. In 1986, he adquieres the Mexican nationality. An important exhibition of his personal work is carried out at the Museum of the Orangerie at the Gardens of Tuillerias in Paris, France. He is appointmented academician in the Arts Academy of Mexico in 1987. On December, 18th 1992, he receives the National Prize of Arts in Mexico. In 1993, he decides to quit his job. In recognition of the artist in 1994, the exhibition “Homenaje Nacional, retrospectiva de su obra personal” is carried out in the Palace of Fine Arts. Francisco Zuñiga died on August, 9th 1998 in Mexico City.
