Wilfredo Chiesa

Born in Puerto Rico and classically trained at the Beaux-Arts Style School of the Plastic Arts, Chiesa grew increasingly drawn to the Abstract Expressionist movement in New York. As a young artist, he gained exposure to various avant-garde artists through visits to New York (where he moved in 1979) and especially through his friendship with the influential curator Henry Geldzahler. In 1977, Chiesa represented Puerto Rico at the Sao Paulo Biennial and has since had over 30 solo exhibitions throughout Europe, Latin America, and the United States. His work is represented in the collections of numerous museums all over the world. Chiesa has been a professor of art at the University of Massachusetts Boston since 1980.