Marcelo Bonevardi - Biographical Data
"Marcelo Bonevardi (1929-1994) was one of the most innovative artists of his generation. A native of Argentina, Bonevardi spent the greater part of his career in New York City, where he absorbed avant-guard practices and influences such as abstraction and primitivism, using them to invent a pictorial and symbolic language with which to express his deep spirituality and affinity for myth and ritual. Bonevardi is best known for his shaped canvases, which combine elements of painting and sculpture, reflecting his early training and lifelong interest in architecture. During his lifetime, Bonevardi received many honors, and his work has been collected by the leading North American and Latin American museums, including the Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim Museum in New York City. "
Excerpt from the Chasing Shadows - Constructing Art book jacket, University of Texas Press 2007
| 1929 | Born May 13 in Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| 1935 | Moves with his family to Córdoba, Argentina |
| 1947 | At age 18 participates in his first public exhibition |
| 1948 | Enters the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba to study architecture |
| 1950 | 4th prize - Cuarto Salón de Artes Plásticas. Córdoba, Argentina |
| 1951 | Honorable Mention - Quinto Salón de Artes Plásticas. Córdoba, Argentina |
Travels to Italy with his mother where he spends a year painting and visiting galleries and museums |
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Leaves architecture to dedicate himself exclusively to painting |
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| 1952 | 3rd prize - Sexto Salón de Artes Plásticas. Córdoba, Argentina |
Acquisition Prize - Séptimo Salón Municipal de Artes Plásticas – Villa María, Argentina |
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| 1953 | 2nd prize - Séptimo Salón de Artes Plásticas. Córdoba, Argentina |
| 1956 | Named Adjunct professor at the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba |
1st Prize – XXXIII Salón Anual de Bellas Artes - Santa Fé, Argentina |
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2nd Prize – Salón de Artes Plásticas “Centenario de San Justo”. Buenos Aires, Argentina |
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| 1957 | Prize – Comición Provincial de Cultura. Tucumán, Argentina |
Awarded Gran Premio Anual - Museo Municipal “Dr. Genaro Pérez”. Córdoba, Argentina |
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Awarded Gran Premio de Honor - J. Pellanda. Córdoba, Argentina |
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First Prize Salón Ministerio de Obras Públicas. Córdoba, Argentina |
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Acquisition Prize – XXXVI Salón Anual de Rosario. Rosario, Argentina |
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| 1958 | Awarded a John Simon Guggenheim Foundation fellowship |
Moves with his family to New York City |
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| 1959 | Awarded a second John Simon Guggenheim Foundation fellowship |
| 1960 | 2nd Prize II Anual Interamericano de Pintura. Barranquilla, Colombia |
| 1962 | Deepening interest in anthropology - starts collecting African tribal art |
Establishes friendships with Taller Torres Garcia Artists Julio Alpuy and Gonzalo Fonseca |
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| 1963 | Awarded fellowship from the New School for Social Research, New York, NY |
| 1964 | Awarded a second fellowship from the New School for Social Research, New York, NY |
Moves to his permanent studio in New York City’s West Village |
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| 1965 | Museum of Modern Art director Alfred Barr visits studio and purchases work for the museum’s collection |
First show one man show at the Bonino Gallery opens to a strong review in The New York Times |
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Accompanies “Magnet: New York” exhibition to Austin, Texas and participates in a concurrent conference |
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| 1969 | Receives International Prize at the X Bienal de São Paulo. São Paulo, Brazil |
| 1970 | Returns to Argentina for the first time since 1959 |
Commissioned for a public mural at New York City’s South Richmond High School |
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| 1972 | Interest turns from African tribal to Pre-Colombian art. From this time forward he frequently visited archeological sites and his collection of artifacts continually grew |
| 1973 | First Prize Ten Argentine Artists at the United Nations. Work permanently installed at the United Nations |
| 1976 | Begins traveling regularly to Argentina dividing his time between Córdoba and New York |
Wife Elena dies after a long illness |
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| 1979 | Designated juror of Latin-American Art for the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation fellowship |
| 1980 | Becomes U.S. citizen |
| 1982 | Collaborates with poet Alberto Girri on Poesía a book of Poems and drawings |
| 1983 | Dictatorship ends in Argentina. Considers establishing a permanent studio in Córdoba and becomes more involved in the cultural affairs of the city |
| 1986 | Participates in Arturo Schwartz’s Arte e Alchimia at the Venice Biennale |
| 1987 | Awarded Premio Rosario - Rosario, Argentina |
| 1988 | Donates sculpture Angel Atrapado II for permanent installation to Museo Provincial “Emilio A. Caraffa”. Córdoba, Argentina |
| 1990 | First of several trips to northwestern Argentina with Rafael Ferraro and others to research Pre-Colombian Art |
New York studio damaged by fire |
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| 1991 | Establishes a primary residence and large studio in Córdoba |
| 1992 | Receives Platinum prize from the Konex Foundation |
| 1993 | Donates Cross for permanent installation to Museo de Arte Religioso. Córdoba, Argentina |
| 1994 | Dies February 1 in Córdoba, Argentina |
