Augusto Torres

Augusto Torres (Terrassa, Barcelona, 19 June 1913 – Barcelona, 13 March 1992) was a Uruguayan painter and muralist of Spanish origin. He was the second son of the painter Joaquín Torres García and Manolita Piña.

Biography His childhood was spent in various cities. In 1919, the family moved to New York, where they lived until 1922. They then returned to Europe and settled in Fiesole, Italy, where they stayed until 1926. During these years, Augusto became familiar with the frescoes of Tuscany and the city of Florence.

Later, the family relocated to France, settling in Paris in the home of Jean Hélion. This environment sparked Augusto's interest in African sculpture and anthropology. In 1928, at just 15 years old, he was hired by the Musée de Trocadéro (now the Museum of Mankind) to illustrate and catalog its collection of Inca and Nazca vessels, igniting his fascination with pre-Columbian culture. He also began studying art history, customs, and the metaphysics of Indigenous American peoples. In 1930, he worked in the studio of Julio González, assisting in the creation of a replica of Picasso's Hommage à Apollinaire. Picasso often visited the workshop, exposing Augusto to an influential artistic environment. Retrospectives at institutions such as the Museo Nacional de Artes Visuales (MNAV) in Montevideo have honored his legacy, showcasing a wide array of his works.

Mural work 1943: Mural in the house of architect Freddy Guttman in Buenos Aires. 1944: Participates alongside Torres-García and members of his Taller in the creation of murals for the Saint-Bois Hospital, Montevideo. 1954: 2 x 6 m mural for the Medical Union of Montevideo. 1958: Relief mural for Liceo Héctor Miranda, Montevideo. 1964: Collaborates with architect Antoni Bonet on a large limestone mural for the Río de la Plata Bank in Montevideo. 1968: 2 x 6 m ceramic mural in the house of architect Ernesto Leborgne. 1976: 27-square-meter polychrome wooden mural carved in collaboration with architect Antoni Bonet in Barcelona. 1978: 4 x 1.60 m mural for Discount Bank Overseas Ltd. in Montevideo. 1979: Two murals, one in wood (2.75 x 14.74 m) and another in ceramic (2.72 x 16.5 m), created in collaboration with architect Antoni Bonet.

Later recognition In his later years, Augusto continued to produce art that bridged modernist principles with his own experimental forms. His work was celebrated for its blend of universal geometric language and personal expression, earning him recognition as one of Uruguay's foremost modernist artists.

Legacy Augusto Torres's contributions to modern art in Uruguay and abroad have cemented his place as a key figure in 20th-century Latin American art. His works remain part of significant public and private collections, continuing to inspire new generations of artists. Galleries such as Artsper and Sala Dalmau continue to feature his art.