SwissArtGallery · Documented identity
Born in Santiago, Chile, in 1927, Ivan Contreras-Brunet made his first paintings in the early 1940s; he died in Vendôme, France, in 2021. After these early works, he attended courses at the École des beaux-arts in Santiago from 1949 to 1950. His work is characterised by serial investigations and Constructivist collages, followed by structured, modular compositions in which transparency, vibration and light play a central role.
His vocabulary includes geometric forms, reliefs and metal structures, as well as works made using mixed media, pastel or watercolour; it also includes sculptures that are sometimes monumental. An untitled work dated 1974, described in an auction catalogue, combines a metal grid with movable elements and acrylic on wood. It is signed and dated on the reverse and measures 91 × 87 × 9 cm. The catalogue gives a provenance linked to a private collection in Switzerland and Galerie Nouvelles Images in The Hague, in 1975.
In 1968, Contreras-Brunet co-founded the CO-MO group, for “Constructivism and Movement”, with, among others, Breuer, Michel Seuphor, Luc Peire, Romano Zanotti and Calos. He became a member of the Salon des réalités nouvelles committee in 1970. In 1972, he represented Chile at the Venice Biennale, where a dedicated room was devoted to him. Galerie Nouvelles Images in The Hague presented his watercolours in 1973 and welcomed him again in 1975. His monumental works include a project at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Nijmegen in 1974, followed by another at the reception area and restaurant of OCÉ-Van der Grinten in Venlo in 1975, both carried out in collaboration with Galerie Nouvelles Images. In 1979, a work is recorded for the Union Bank of Switzerland in Lucerne.
A monograph by Marcel Galerneau devoted to the artist was published in Paris in 1999.
This profile brings together identity references for Ivan Contreras-Brunet and paintings, drawings and works on paper documented in auction catalogues.
Artcurial Beurret Bailly Widmer · Piguet
References include catalogue entries and available results; they do not all represent completed sales. Attributed works and special lots are excluded from the priced results.
Drahtgitter mit beweglichen Elementen über Acryl auf Holz
Ohne Titel, 1974
Drahtgitter mit beweglichen Elementen über Acryl auf Holz
Catalogue period : 2017-06-21
Published result : 15200 CHF
Including buyer’s premium
Estimate : CHF 8000–12000
View the lot at the auction house ↗
Watercolour
Composition,
aquarelle
Catalogue period : 2013-12-11
Catalogue reference — sale not confirmed
Estimate : CHF 250–350
View the lot at the auction house ↗SwissArtGallery documentary note based on the cited sources. Titles, media and qualifications are provided in the profile language; the original catalogue wording remains available in each record.
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