Eduardo Chillida

Eduardo Chillida (Spain, 1924–2002) began studying architecture in 1943 but abandoned his studies in 1947 to devote himself to sculpture and drawing. After moving to Paris in 1948 and briefly working within the figurative tradition, he returned to the Basque Country in 1951, where he learned metalworking techniques from Manuel Illarramendi and created "Ilarik", his first abstract sculpture.

His work explores space, void, matter, scale, and the relationship between light and materials. He worked with iron, wood, steel, alabaster, and concrete; among his projects are the series "Elogio de la luz" ("In Praise of Light"), "Lugar de encuentros III" ("Meeting Place III"), "El peine del viento" ("The Wind’s Comb"), and the unfinished work conceived for the Tindaya mountain. In 2000, he founded Chillida-Leku with the aim of promoting his work.

He participated in the 1958 Venice Biennale, where he received the Grand Prize for Sculpture, and in the 1959 Documenta in Kassel. In 1985, he was awarded the French National Prize for Sculpture, and in 1987, the Prince of Asturias Award for the Arts. His work is part of the collections of the Chillida Leku Museum, the Reina Sofía National Art Museum, the Telefónica Collection, MoMA in New York, and the Tate in London.