Franz Josef Weissmann

Place: Brazil

Born: 1911

Death: 2005

Biography:

Franz Josef Weissmann was a Brazilian sculptor born in Austria, who emigrated to Brazil at the age of eleven. He is renowned for his geometric shapes, particularly cubes and squares, which are strongly featured in his works. As one of the founders of the Neo-Concrete Movement, Weissmann played a significant role in shaping the Brazilian art scene.

Early Life and Education

Weissmann was born on September 15, 1911, in Knittelfeld, Austria. He moved to Brazil with his family in 1921 and later attended architecture, painting, drawing, and sculpture classes at the National School of Fine Arts in Rio de Janeiro between 1939 and 1941. From 1942 to 1944, he studied drawing, sculpture, modeling, and foundry with August Zamoyski.

Career

Weissmann's career as a sculptor began to take shape in the 1950s, when he developed a constructivist style, favoring geometric shapes. He joined Grupo Frente in 1955 and participated in the National Exposition of Concrete Art in 1957. In 1959, Weissmann traveled to Europe and East Asia, returning to Brazil in 1965. During this period, he created several notable works, including Composition with Semicircles, which is now part of the collection at the Museum of Modern Art. Weissmann's sculptures can be found in various museums and collections, including the Syracuse University Art Collection. His work has been exhibited in numerous galleries, such as the Galera São Jorge in Madrid and the Galeria Grupo B in Rio de Janeiro.

Awards and Recognition

Weissmann's contributions to the art world have been recognized with several awards. In 1970, he won the award for best sculptor by the Brazilian Association of Art Critics. He also participated in the International Outdoor Sculpture Biennial in Antwerp, Belgium, and at the Venice Biennale.

Selected Works and Exhibitions

Some of Weissmann's notable works include:

• Amassados (Dented) series, created in Europe with hammered zinc and aluminum sheets
• Oslop-3, a sculpture that showcases his constructivist style
• Okta-Cubes, a work that features geometric shapes and optical illusions

Weissmann's work has been exhibited in various museums and galleries, including the MuBe in São Paulo and the Galeria Anna Maria Niemeyer in Rio de Janeiro. For more information about Franz Josef Weissmann and his works, visit https://Wikioo.org/@/Franz-Josef-Weissmann. You can also learn more about the Neo-Concrete Movement and its key figures at https://Wikioo.org/@@/A@D3CP85-The-Cubist-Art-Movement. Additionally, Weissmann's biography is available on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Weissmann.