EDUARDO CHILLIDA

EDUARDO CHILLIDA, 1924–2002

Born in the Basque city of San Sebastián, Spain, Chillida is well known for his printed works, and even more so for his sculptures. However, his first calling was professional football as he was the goalkeeper for Real Sociedad Football Club.

After a serious injury ended his football career, Chillida left for Madrid to study architecture before devoting himself to sculpture from 1950 onwards. During the 1950’s, he was exhibited in Madrid, San Sebastián, Paris and New York where, at the behest of his friend James Johnson Sweeney, Chillida’s works would be included in the permanent collection of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. Today, Chillida’s works may be found in many public and private collections, and at the Chillida Museum (or Chillida Leku in Basque) in Hernani, near San Sebastian.