María Simón Padrós

(Tucumán, Argentina, 1922 – Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2009)

She studied sculpture with Jean Labourdette and Libero Badiú and exhibited for the first time at the Riboo Gallery in Buenos Aires in 1963. In 1964 she came to London on a British Council grant, exhibited at the Institute of Contemporary Art and published a book in collaboration with the poet Horowitz: “Strangers”. She was awarded the Georges Braque Sculpture Prize in 1966 and lived in Paris ever since. She participated in numerous exhibitions and was invited to the Venice, Menton and Tokyo biennials.

“Generally, when it comes to contemporary Latin American art, the question arises: Why does constructive art, why does kinetic art from the continent have international privilege? I have always been waiting for the answer. Today, when I have seen the works of María (Simón), I am asking myself the question: Why does contemporary art, even in the sensitive hands of a Latin American, make itself present in the strength of the stripped-down structure and through the economy of means? Maria has chosen the most difficult path; I wish her the most brilliant culmination”. (Soto).