World renowned artist, set designer and writer, Gunther Gerzso was born in Mexico City on June 17, 1915. His father was a Hungarian immigrant and his mother was German by birth. He was introduced to art as a teenager when he was sent to live in Switzerland with his uncle, who was an art collector, dealer and historian. While there, he met noted set designer Nando Tamberlani, who introduced him to the theater. In 1931 Gunther returned to Mexico City to live with his mother. Having been influenced by Tamberlani, he began designing sets and in 1935 was offered a scholarship to study at the Cleveland Playhouse in the United States. During his time as a set and production designer, he began painting as a hobby and didn’t consider himself a “painter” by profession until his work was selected for an exhibition at the Cleveland Museum of Art.  In 1941 he and his wife returned to live in Mexico City. In 1944 Gunther joined a group of surrealist painters (who came to Mexico to escape the war in Europe), whose influence clearly shows in his works from this period. It wasn’t until later that he began producing his famous abstracts. Gunther’s paintings have been exhibited internationally and are in the collections of major museums throughout the world. He was awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship in 1973 and the Premio Nacional de Artes y Ciencias in 1978, the highest artistic distinction awarded by the Mexican government. He lived in Mexico City until his death on April 21, 2000.(source: Mid-Centuria)

World renowned artist, set designer and writer, Gunther Gerzso was born in Mexico City on June 17, 1915. His father was a Hungarian immigrant and his mother was German by birth. He was introduced to art as a teenager when he was sent to live in Switzerland with his uncle, who was an art collector, dealer and historian. While there, he met noted set designer Nando Tamberlani, who introduced him to the theater. In 1931 Gunther returned to Mexico City to live with his mother. Having been influenced by Tamberlani, he began designing sets and in 1935 was offered a scholarship to study at the Cleveland Playhouse in the United States. During his time as a set and production designer, he began painting as a hobby and didn’t consider himself a “painter” by profession until his work was selected for an exhibition at the Cleveland Museum of Art.  In 1941 he and his wife returned to live in Mexico City. In 1944 Gunther joined a group of surrealist painters (who came to Mexico to escape the war in Europe), whose influence clearly shows in his works from this period. It wasn’t until later that he began producing his famous abstracts.

Gunther’s paintings have been exhibited internationally and are in the collections of major museums throughout the world. He was awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship in 1973 and the Premio Nacional de Artes y Ciencias in 1978, the highest artistic distinction awarded by the Mexican government. He lived in Mexico City until his death on April 21, 2000.

(source: Mid-Centuria)