Francisco Brennand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Francisco Brennand
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| Born | June 11, 1927 |
| Died | December 19, 2019 (aged 92) Recife
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| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Occupation | Sculptor and visual artist |
Francisco Brennand (June 11, 1927 – December 19, 2019) was a famous Brazilian artist. He was known for his amazing sculptures and paintings. He worked a lot with ceramics, which is art made from clay.
Contents
Life and Art Journey
Early Life and Inspiration
Francisco de Paula de Almeida Brennand was born in Recife, Brazil, in 1927. His family had a business making ceramic tiles. When Francisco was young, his father sent him to Europe. He went to learn more about how to work with ceramics.
In 1949, Francisco arrived in Paris, France. There, he saw art by famous artists like Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró. Their ceramic work really inspired him. This is when he decided to become a ceramic artist himself.
Starting His Career
In 1948, Francisco married Déborah de Moura Vasconcelos. In 1950, he won an award for his painting called "Mamão e Bananas." Later, in 1961, he started making a large ceramic mural. It was called "Batalha dos Guararapes" and was in Recife.
He also worked on costumes for a movie in 1968. In 1971, he showed 12 of his paintings at a big art show. This show was the 11th São Paulo Biennial. A "biennial" is a large art exhibition that happens every two years.
Creating the Oficina Brennand
In 1971, Francisco went back to his father's old tile factory. It was in ruins, but he had a big idea. He decided to turn it into his own art studio and museum. This place became known as the Oficina Brennand. Here, he made both tiles and his unique ceramic sculptures.
Between 1975 and 1985, he created many of the sculptures you can see there today. He developed his special style of ceramic art. Over the years, he also made murals for public buildings. These included works for power companies and government offices.
Global Recognition
Francisco Brennand's art became very well known. In 1985, he was invited to another São Paulo Biennial. That same year, he received a special medal from the French government. It was called "Officier de L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres."
He showed his art in many countries. In 1989, he went to Portugal. The next year, he represented Brazil at the 44th Venice Biennial in Italy. He also had shows in Spain and Switzerland in 1992.
In 1993, a big art museum in Berlin, Germany, held a special show of his work. He also won an important award called the Inter-American Prize of Culture Gabriela Mistral. This award came from the Organization of American States.
Later Works and Legacy
Francisco Brennand continued to create amazing art. He made "O Grande Sol" (The Great Sun) in 1995-1996 for an art museum in Recife. In 2000, he created the "Parque das Esculturas" (Sculptures Park). This park is located at Marco Zero in Recife. It has almost 100 of his artworks.
Some of his later works include "O Gigante Nabuco" (The Giant Nabuco) from 2010. This sculpture is in Rio de Janeiro. He also made "Pássaro Rocca" (Rocca Bird) in 2013. This piece is in a subway station in São Paulo.
Francisco Brennand passed away on December 19, 2019, in Recife. He was 92 years old. The Governor of Pernambuco state declared three days of mourning. This showed how important he was to the region.
He had many solo exhibitions throughout his career. These shows were held in important places. They included Casa França Brasil in 2000 and the Museu Oscar Niemeyer in 2004. His art touched many people around the world.
Brennand's Art and Style
Francisco Brennand mostly showed his art at the Oficina Brennand. This huge place includes his working tile factory, a museum, a chapel, and a café. The Oficina has about 2,000 of his artworks. You can find them in large open halls, outdoor areas, and beautiful gardens. The whole place is surrounded by an Atlantic forest reserve.
His art often explores themes like the human body, eggs, animals, and fruits. These ideas appear again and again in his sculptures. Many people admired his work. The New York Times newspaper called him "the foremost artist in the city." They also said the Oficina Brennand was like a "metaphor for the city of Recife itself." He was also called "Brazil's greatest ceramicist." This means he was considered the best artist in Brazil who worked with clay.
More than 90 of his artworks are in the Parque das Esculturas (Sculptures Park). This park is in the Recife Antigo port district. It includes the impressive 32-meter (105-foot) Crystal Tower. The city asked him to create this park in 2000. It was to celebrate 500 years since Europeans first arrived in Brazil.
