AwardSeptember 17, 2021
Francisco Gazitúa
The Chilean Ministry of Culture, Arts, and Heritage awarded the 2021 National Fine Arts Award to the artist Francisco Gazitúa. Minister Consuelo Valdés announced the decision from the Palacio Pereira. "It is a recognition of the national and international career of Francisco Gazitúa, an agent in the career of sculptors in our country, and an ambassador of Chile with his large-scale works, present in various parts of the world," said the minister.
The jury led by Minister Consuelo Valdés was composed of Ennio Vivaldi, rector of the Universidad de Chile; Eduardo Vilches, winner of the award in 2019; Silvia Westermann, representative of the Academy of Fine Arts; Álvaro Rojas, representative of the Council of Rectors; and Francisco Brugnoli and Paula De Solminihac, both representatives of the National Council of Cultures, Arts and Heritage.
Francisco Gazitúa Costabal was born in Santiago in 1944 and has had an extensive sculptural and teaching career, having completed a postgraduate degree in sculpture at St. Martins School of Arts in London, under the guidance of sculptors Sir Antony Caro, Philip King, and Tim Scott. In England, during 1978-1979, he collaborated as an assistant to sculptors Tim Scott and Philip King, among other artistic activities.
He has taught sculpture at various institutions, such as the Pontificia Universidad Católica, the Universidad de Chile and the Universidad Finis Terrae, in Chile. His sculptures are monumental works that combine wrought iron, stone, and wood. He has 57 of them seated in public spaces in Chile and other countries.
The jury led by Minister Consuelo Valdés was composed of Ennio Vivaldi, rector of the Universidad de Chile; Eduardo Vilches, winner of the award in 2019; Silvia Westermann, representative of the Academy of Fine Arts; Álvaro Rojas, representative of the Council of Rectors; and Francisco Brugnoli and Paula De Solminihac, both representatives of the National Council of Cultures, Arts and Heritage.
Francisco Gazitúa Costabal was born in Santiago in 1944 and has had an extensive sculptural and teaching career, having completed a postgraduate degree in sculpture at St. Martins School of Arts in London, under the guidance of sculptors Sir Antony Caro, Philip King, and Tim Scott. In England, during 1978-1979, he collaborated as an assistant to sculptors Tim Scott and Philip King, among other artistic activities.
He has taught sculpture at various institutions, such as the Pontificia Universidad Católica, the Universidad de Chile and the Universidad Finis Terrae, in Chile. His sculptures are monumental works that combine wrought iron, stone, and wood. He has 57 of them seated in public spaces in Chile and other countries.
