Biography

Claudio Bravo was a celebrated Chilean painter, noted for his hyperrealist still lifes and figurative paintings. Equally representational of a uniquely Chilean convention as it is of art historical reference, Bravo’s work was influenced by Baroque and Surrealist styles. Born on November 8, 1936 in Valparaiso, Chile, he received no formal artistic training and would go on to achieve international recognition. His trompe l'oeil paintings of paper packages, which he began in the early 1960s, caught the attention of the American art world, prompting Bravo to move to New York. He painted portraits of numerous prominent political figures, including the Marcos Presidential family of the Philippines and Spanish dictator Francisco Franco. His works are held in major collections such as The Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and he was the recipient of a Gold Medal of Honor from the Casita Maria in the Bronx. The artist died on June 4, 2011 at his home in Taroudant, Morocco.