Luis Alberto Solari biography

Luis Alberto Solari is a Uruguayan artist famous for his contribution to magical realism. Born in Fray Bentos, Uruguay, on October 17, 1918, his artistic career began in Montevideo in 1925, where he developed an early interest in painting and its techniques.
In 1932, his artistic career took a significant turn when he met the painter Zoma Baitler. The following year, he joined the decorative painting workshop at the Industrial School, led by Guillermo Laborde. In this period, he collaborated on the creation of large-format scenography and decorations, such as those for the Hotel Miramar and the Municipal Casino of Parque Rodó. His enrollment in 1934 at the Círculo de Bellas Artes of Montevideo led him to explore artistic movements such as post-impressionism and symbolism, influenced by Gauguin, D'Hastrel, Rugendas, Morel, Monvoisin, Adolfo Pastor and Carlos González.
In 1937, Luis Alberto Solari moved to Buenos Aires to further his studies, where he was influenced by the painting of Argentine artists such as Pettoruti, Butler, Berni, Quinquela Martín and Spilimbergo. Returning to Fray Bentos, he dedicated himself to various artistic projects, including scenography and decoration for the city carnival, a commitment he would maintain for many years.
During the 1940s, he carried out his artistic work alongside other activities, such as veterinary inspection at the Anglo meat packing plant and street vending. These experiences put him in contact with Uruguayan popular culture, significantly influencing his work. In 1941 he received his first major recognition, the Acquisition Prize at the Municipal Hall of Fine Arts. On 20 May 1944 he married Nora D'Agosto.
In 1948, his career took a major turn when he began to focus on the theme of carnival in his works. This interest materialized in a participation in the São Paulo Biennial in 1951. The following year, Solari went to Europe on an official assignment, studying artistic teaching methods. In Paris, he became a member of the group Jeune Contemporaine and began working on printmaking under the guidance of Edouard Goerg at the Ecole de Beaux Arts. His European experience exposed him to the work of masters such as Titian, Brueghel, Ensor, Klee, Rouault and Gauguin, and he was particularly impressed by Renaissance painting.
Upon his return to Uruguay in 1953, he founded the Taller de Artes Plásticas in Fray Bentos and continued to receive awards and recognition. In 1959, on the occasion of the centenary of Fray Bentos, he organized several cultural events, including the Group 8 exhibition. In the 1960s, Luis Alberto Solari returned to Europe, inspired by Chagall's stained glass windows in Paris, and began to explore new techniques such as collage and texture.
In 1967, he moved to the United States to perfect his printmaking technique at the Pratt Graphics Center and the New York Graphics Workshop, collaborating with artists such as Liliana Porter and Luis Camnitzer. During this period, he exhibited at the Zegry Gallery in New York and at the La Ruche Gallery in Buenos Aires, and in 1970 he decided to settle in the United States. In the 1970s, his work received further recognition and was exhibited in several international exhibitions.
In 1974, Luis Alberto Solari moved his studio to Port Washington, Rhode Island, and began work on an edition of Aesop's Fables. He continues to exhibit in America and Europe, and in 1981 he resides in Jerusalem, invited by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This experience influences his exploration of biblical themes, already present in other phases of his career.
Luis Alberto Solari returned definitively to Uruguay in 1986 and in 1989 held important retrospectives. The same year, the Solari Museum was inaugurated in Fray Bentos. In 1992, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award for the Plastic Arts from the Ministry of Education and Culture. Luis Alberto Solari died on October 13, 1993, leaving a significant artistic legacy and lasting influence on the art world.