José Basso was born in Chile in 1949 and later graduated with a Fine Arts degree from the University of Chile. He became a professor of art at the same institution, while continuing to develop his skill as artist. He was granted a number of prestigious scholarships through the years, including one in Paris in 1981, Amigos del Arte in 1982, Fundacion Andes in 1991 and Fondart in 2001. Basso’s first professional recognition occurred when he won the Valparaiso International Biennial Exhibition Prize for Painting. In 1999, his work was selected by the Worldwide Millennium Painting exhibition in London. He has represented his country in numerous international exhibitions and his works are included in the collection of Chilean President Ricardo Lagos, as well as the Museum of Modern Art in Santiago. Basso has also been honored with a commission from Queen Sophia of Spain to create two paintings for the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid. In addition, in 2007 he was commissioned to paint an important mural for the Office of Export Administration in Washington, D.C. Basso’s work is also included in a number of prestigious corporate and private collections worldwide. With his elegantly simplified forms and fine brushwork, complimented by his signature use of boldly contrasting colors, Basso’s evocative creations are universal in their appeal.
