Luis Wells

LUIS WELLS (Argentina, 1939-2023).
Untitled, 2018.
Acrylic on paper.
Attached certificate issued by the author.
Signed and dated in the lower right corner.
Measurements: 75 x 112 cm; 81 x 117 cm (frame).
Luis Wells was an Argentine artist of outstanding career, whose work encompassed multiple disciplines such as painting, sculpture, design, architecture and settings. Recognized for his experimental character, he was a pioneer in the use of waste materials and in the creation of interactive art objects, especially his "Toys" and "Techos" series. He was a central figure in the founding of the Informalist Movement in Argentina.
Trained at the Prilidiano Pueyrredón School, he began his career in the 1950s and quickly became part of avant-garde circuits. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s he participated in national and international exhibitions, residing in London and New York, where he developed projects related to urban art, industrial design and cultural activism. His work was recognized by institutions such as MoMA.
Back in Argentina, he continued his artistic and architectural work, exploring new expressive forms in painting and sculpture. In the 1980s and 1990s, his work oscillated between abstraction and figuration, incorporating references to popular culture. He was awarded important prizes, such as the Konex Prize and the Grand Prize of Honor at the National Salon.
In the 21st century, he held retrospective exhibitions and resumed the production of emblematic works. He also placed monumental sculptures in public spaces, mainly in the province of Córdoba. His work was revalued in numerous historical exhibitions and in 2016 he published his autobiography. His legacy is characterized by formal innovation, disciplinary crossover and a sustained commitment to contemporary aesthetics.