Lothar Kestenbaum, Berlín, Alemania. 1926-1995, poseedor de la Silla en Escultura en el Instituto de Bellas Artes por muchos años, fue, indiscutiblemente, el escultor más fino que jamás ha trabajado en San Miguel de Allende. Sus esculturas en bronce y mármol se han exhibido para ser aclamadas en Europa y las Américas. Sus trabajos son parte importante de colecciones en Alemania, Inglaterra, Canadá, los Estados Unidos y México. Tal como Miguel Ángel, él podía ver la forma en la sustancia con la cual trabajó. Con gran atención a la forma, la textura, el patinado, su sensibilidad artística y virtuosismo técnico lo dirigieron para producir un arte que abre ventanas muy dentro del alma.
Lothar Kestenbaum, Berlin, Germany. 1926-1995, holder of the Chair in Sculpture at the Instituto de Bellas Artes for many years, was, arguably, the finest sculptor ever to have worked in San Miguel de Allende. His sculptures in bronze and marble have been exhibited to acclaim in Europe and the Americas. His works are important parts of collections in Germany, England, Canada, the United States and Mexico. As Michelangelo, he could see the form in the substance with wich he worked. With great attention to shape, texture, patina, his artistic sensibility and technical virtuosity led him to produce art that opens windows on the very soul.
ACERCA ABOUT
1945-52 Studied at Hochschule für Bildende Kunste (Fine Arts Academy) in Berlin
1967 Moved to Mexico. Traveled Europe, United States and Canada
1970-95 Head of Department of Sculpture in the Cultural Center “El Nigromante”, INBA, San Miguel de Allende, México
1995 Died in June of this year
EXPOSICIONES INDIVIDUALES SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2003 Galería Carlos MuRo
2000 “OBRAS” Centro Cultural El Nigromante, San Miguel de Allende, México
1999 University of Guanajuato, Polivalente Hall, Hermenegildo Buston Hall, Guanajuato, Gto., “Familia Feliz”(January)
1999 “Tres Desafíos Plásticos”, City Museum, Querétaro, Querétaro (July)
1992, 93, 95, 97 Centro Cultural El Nigromante, INBA, San Miguel de Allende, México
1991 La Pérgola Gallery, Instituto Allende, San Miguel de Allende, México
1998-90 Centro Cultural El Nigromante, INBA, San Miguel de Allende, México
1987 Museo de Arte Moderno, México, DF, México
1980-81, 1985-87 Centro Cultural El Nigromante, INBA, San Miguel de Allende, México
1981 Museo Biblioteca Papé, Monclova, Coahuila, México
1979 Museo de Arte Carrillo Gil, INBA. DF, México
1974-75, 1978 Centro Cultural El Nigromante. INBA, San Miguel de Allende, México
1973 Phoenix Gallery, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
1970, 73 Casa de la Cultura, INBA; Aguascalientes, Ags., México
1973 Casa de la Cultura, INBA. San Luis Potosí, S.L.P. México
1973 Sala de Exposiciones, Palacio de los Deportes, México, DF
1972 Washington Country Museum of Fine Arts, Hagerstown, Maryland, USA
1971 Thompson Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
1967 Milwaukee Jewish Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
1965 Ankrun Gallery, Los Angeles, California, USA
1964 Gallery University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
1962 Galería Instituto Allende, INBA, San Miguel de Allende, México
1958, 1960-61 Sylvan Simone Gallery, Los Angeles, California, USA
1958 Museum of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
1957 Galería Antonio Souza, México, DF, México
BECAS Y DISTINCIONES SCHOLARSHIPS & AWARDS
1992 Espacio Escultórico nombrado Lothar J. Kestenbaum, Centro Cultural El Nigromante, INBA, San Migue de Allende, Gto., Mexico
1979 Invited to the International Plastic Arts Symposium, University of Quebec, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
1964-79 Associate Professor, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
1977 Invited Professor, University of Quebec, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
1976 Invited Professor, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA
1974 Studies in Italy and Germany, scholarship by Akademischen Austeuschdienst, Federal Government of Germany
1969 Consigned by the Senate of the City of Berlin Occidental to sculpt the “Happy Family” in bronze 3 mts in height, donated to Mexico City, located in Colonia Polanco, Parque del Reloj. A steel version, same dimensions, is located in the Papé museum in Monclova, Coahuila, Mexico
1964 Invited Professor, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
1963 Grant from the Senate of Berlin, Villa Serpentara, Alevano Romano, Italy
1962-63 Prix de Rome from the German Academy, Villa Massimo, Rome, Italy
EXPOSICIONES COLECTIVAS COLLECTIVE EXHIBITIONS
2000 Escultura Mexicana Siglo XX, INBA, Palacio de Bellas Artes, México, México
1991,92, 1993 Centro Cultural El Nigromante, INBA, San Miguel de Allende, México
1990-91 “40 Años de Arte en San Miguel”, Instituto Allende, San Miguel de Allende, México
1980-87 Centro Cultural El Nigromante, INBA, San Miguel de Allende, México
1978 Plástica de San Miguel de Allende, Galería Tierra Adentro, INBA, México, DF
1973 Centro Cultural El Nigromante, INBA, San Miguel de Allende, México
1971 V Bienal Nacional de Escultura, Museo de Arte Moderno, INBA, México, DF
1970 Galería San Miguel, San Miguel de Allende, Gto., México
1969 Galería Plástica de México, México, D.F., México
1969 IV Bienal Nacional de Escultura, Museo de Arte Moderno, INBA, México, DF
1968 Centro Cultural El Nigromante, INBA, San Miguel de Allende, México
Comisión de Promoción Cultural, Gobierno del Estado de Puebla
1967 XXXII Wisconsin Salon of Art, Madison Wisconsin, USA
University of Wisconsin, Milwakee, Wisconsin, USA
1966 XXXI Wisconsin Salon of Art, Madison Wisconsin, USA
1965 Municipal Art Gallery, Los Angeles, California, USA
1963 Exposición Anual de la Academia de Alemania, Roma, Italia
1962 Primera Bienal Nacional de Escultura, Palacio de Bellas Artes, INBA, México, DF
1961 Los Angeles Country Museum Annual Exhibition, California, USA
1959 Annual National Art Association Exhibition, Sarasota, Florida, USA
San Fernando Valle Show, California, USA
1957 Feria de León, Gto., México
1955 Los Angeles Country Museum Annual Exhibition, California, USA
1954 Los Angeles Art Association, California, USA
1952 Museum of Columbus, Ohio, USA
1951 Varias Exposiciones Colectivas en Berlin, West Germany
COLECCIONES COLLECTIONS
• Dr. Alvar Carrillo Gil, Museo Carrillo Gil, México, DF
• Sr. Hal Papé, México, D.F., México
• Museo Biblioteca Papé, Monclova, Coahuila, México
• Sr. Jules Zelman, Los Angeles, California, USA
• Sr. Ed Bergman, New York, U.S.A.
• Sr. Seymoure Strongin, Washington, D.C., USA
• Ambassador Dr. Hans Schwarzmann, Germany
• Sr. Ronnie Thomae, México, D.F., México
• Sr. Berndt Wilmanns, México, D.F., Mexico
• Museo de Arte Moderno, México, D.F., México
• Washington Country Museum of Art, Hagerstown, Maryland, USA
• Senate of Berlin, Germany
• Mutual Trust and Savings Association, Los Angeles, California, USA
• Collection Alvar & Carmen T. de Carrillo Gil, México
• Other private collections in México, USA, Canada, England & Germany