Juan O'Gorman
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Juan O'Gorman (July 6, 1905 - January 17, 1982), was a Mexican artist, both a painter and an architect.
O'Gorman was born in Coyoacán, Mexican Federal District, a suburb within greater Mexico City, to an Irish father, Cecil Crawford O'Gorman (a painter himself) and a Mexican mother. In the 1920s he studied architecture at the Academy of San Carlos, the Art and Architecture school at National University, Mexico. He became a well known architect, worked on the new Bank Of Mexico building, and under the influence of Le Corbusier introduced modern functionalist architecture to Mexico City.
An important early commission was for a house and studio for painters Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, built in 1931-32. O'Gorman went on to design and build 26 elementary schools in Mexico City. Rivera, in turn, influenced O'Gorman's painting.
As he matured O'Gorman turned away from strict functionalism and worked to develop an organic architecture, combining the influence of Frank Lloyd Wright with traditional Mexican constructions.
His paintings often treated Mexican history, landscape, and legends. He painted the murals in the Independence Room in Mexico City's Chapultepec Castle.
He died on January 17, 1982, as a result of suicide. Authorities believe the artist grew despondent after being diagnosed with a heart ailment which curtailed his work. Mr. O'Gorman, who was 76 years old, was found dead at his home.
[edit] Bibliography
Rodríguez Prampolini, Ida, Juan O'Gorman, arquitecto y pintor, México, UNAM-Instituto de Investigaciones Estéticas, 1983.
O'Gorman, Juan, Juan O'Gorman (Inv. y coord. documental Ida Rodríguez Prampolini, Olga Sáenz y Elizabeth Fuentes), México, UNAM-Coordinación de Humanidades.
O'Gorman, México, Grupo Financiero Bital, 1999.
