Mari Puri Herrero

Mari Puri Herrero is a contemporary artist born in Bilbao in 1942. She began her training in the workshop of Ascensio Martiarena in San Sebastián, and later moved to Madrid to study drawing and painting at the Círculo de Bellas Artes and the Prado Museum. During her stay in the Spanish capital, she began working with printmaking 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 experience firsthand the work of great engravers such as Rembrandt, who greatly influenced her work. Between 1969 and 1971, Mari Puri Herrero settled in Paris, where she became familiar with the figurative movement, which was reflected in her work from a symbolist perspective. Upon her return to Bilbao, she began an intense exhibition activity both nationally and in Europe, which made her one of the most prominent figures in Basque artistic culture. In 1978, she created Marijaia, the emblematic figure of Bilbao's Aste Nagusia. Mari Puri Herrero's work is characterized by its exploration of social and political themes, such as war, violence, and discrimination. Her style combines figurative and abstract elements, and her printmaking 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.