Mari Puri Herrero

Mari Puri Herrero - Red field, white tree

Técnica: Oil on canvas

Biografía del Artista: Mari Puri Herrero is a contemporary artist born in Bilbao in 1942. She began her training in the workshop of Ascensio Martiarena in Donostia, and later moved to Madrid to study drawing and painting at the Círculo de Bellas Artes and the Museo del Prado. During her stay in the Spanish capital, she began to work with engraving techniques such as linocut and etching. In 1966, she received a scholarship from the Provincial Council of Bizkaia and the Dutch Government, which allowed her to continue her studies in Amsterdam. At the Rijsmuseum she had the opportunity to see first-hand the work of great engravers such as Rembrandt, who had a great influence on her work. Between 1969 and 1971, Mari Puri Herrero settled in Paris, where she became familiar with the figurative movement that would be reflected in her work from a symbolist perspective. Upon her return to Bilbao, she began an intense exhibition activity both at a national and European level, which made her one of the most prominent figures in Basque artistic culture. In 1978, she created Marijaia, the emblematic figure of the Aste Nagusia in Bilbao. Mari Puri Herrero's work is characterized by the exploration of social and political themes, such as war, violence and discrimination. Her style combines figurative and abstract elements, and her engraving technique is characterized by the use of strong, thick lines, which give her works a great visual impact. Her commitment to Basque culture and its roots is reflected in the inclusion of elements of mythology and popular tradition in her work. Mari Puri Herrero has received numerous awards and recognitions throughout her career, and her work can be found in important art collections in Spain and abroad.