Early Life and Education
- Born: April 4, 1915, Danzig, Germany (now Gdańsk, Poland)
- Died: August 4, 1990, Mexico City
- Origin: German-Mexican
- Early life was spent in Berlin after his birth in Danzig.
- Studied philosophy and art history at Friedrich-Wilhelm-Universität (Humboldt University of Berlin) from 1934.
- Received a doctorate in art history in 1940 with a dissertation on Ferdinand von Rayski.
- Trained as an artist at the Kunstgewerbe- und Handwerkerschule in Berlin-Charlottenberg, studying drawing with Max Kaus and Hans Orlowski.
Career Development and Artistic Style
- Worked at Berlin's Nationalgalerie (Alte Nationalgalerie) under Paul Ortwin Rave.
- Left Germany in 1941, settling initially in Tetuan, Morocco.
- Married photographer Marianne Gast in 1942 and settled in Granada, Spain.
- First solo exhibition held in Madrid in 1946.
- Immigrated to Mexico in 1949.
- Collaborated with architect Luis Barragán on monumental abstract sculptures in reinforced concrete (e.g., *El Animal del Pedregal*, *Torres de la Ciudad Satélite*).
- Artistic style influenced by Expressionism, emphasizing subjective experience and emotional impact through distorted forms.
Notable Works and Contributions
- Sculptures: El Eco (Experimental Museum, Mexico City), *Los Amantes* (Hotel Presidente, Acapulco), *La Mano Divina*, *La Mano Codiciosa* (reliefs in the Iglesia de San Lorenzo, Mexico City).
- Developed the concept of "Emotional Architecture," emphasizing emotional and spiritual aspects in building design.
- His work visually and conceptually influenced contemporary architects.
Recognition and Legacy
- Received the Pritzker Prize in 1980, a significant recognition for his contributions to architecture.
- Goeritz's legacy extends beyond individual artworks; he significantly impacted architectural theory and practice through Emotional Architecture.
- His work continues to be studied and appreciated for its innovative blend of art, architecture, and emotional expression.
Further Information
- Wikipedia: Mathias Goeritz - Wikipedia
- Tate: Mathias Goeritz 1915–1990 | Tate
