Roger von Gunten is a renowned visual artist born in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1933 who imigrated to Mexico in 1957.

 

He learned to paint since he was a child at his father's side, thus forming the idea of becoming an artist. From 1947 to 1952 he studied Painting and Graphic Design at the Kunstgewerbeschule in Zurich (School of Arts and Crafts), under the direction of Johannes Itten, an artist who tought at the Bauhaus.

 

Upon his arrival in Mexico, in 1957, he continued his studies at the Universidad Iberoamericana where he learned metal engraving under the direction of artist and teacher Guillermo Silva Santamaría.

After graduating from the school, he had his first individual painting exhibition in 1956 in Switzerland and in 1957 in the Antonio Souza Gallery. Since then he has had more than 120 individual national and international exhibitions, participated in more than 200 collective exhibitions, made sculptures, objects, urban works, scenographies for the theatre, opera and illustrated books and records.

 

For his own interest, he has been teaching for more than 60 years in public and private institutions as well as in his own workshops.

He belongs to the "Generation of the Rupture" from its beginnings, its painting stands out by a fluid outline, a particular use of color and a unique style has gone from the figurative to the abstract.

 

Since 1993 he is a member of the National System of Art Creators of Mexico and among many others, he received in 2014 the Fine Arts Medal, the highest award given by the government of Mexico. His work has been of great influence in the arts of Mexico, making him an unquestionable icon of Mexican art. His work has been exhibited and can be found in museums or collections in Mexico, Europe, Asia and Oceania.