Soriano, Juan

▪ 2007

Juan Francisco Rodríguez Montoya 

      Mexican painter and sculptor (b. Aug. 18, 1920, Guadalajara, Mex.—d. Feb. 10, 2006, Mexico City, Mex.), was an exponent of the Mexican School cultural movement, which flourished after the ouster in 1910 of Mexican dictator Porfirio Díaz and drew on Expressionism. Soriano was known primarily for his self-portraits and portraits, notably a series of Lupe Marín, Diego Rivera's first wife. Soriano later shifted to sculpting, and his huge bronze doves and moons graced a number of plazas in Mexico. A prodigy, he first began exhibiting at the age of 14, and he later moved to Mexico City to pursue his art. For a time he was a member of the League of Revolutionary Writers and Artists, who protested against fascism in Europe and against the U.S. involvement in various Latin American countries. He traveled extensively in Europe and found inspiration in everyday life and the people with whom he lived. Soriano was the recipient of Mexico's national art prize (1987), France's Légion d'Honneur (2004), and Spain's Velázquez Prize (2005).

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