Siqueiros

David Alfaro Siqueiros (December 29, 1896 – January 6, 1974) was a Mexican painter and muralist widely regarded as one of the leading figures of the Mexican muralism movement, alongside Diego Rivera and José Clemente Orozco. His work is characterized by large-scale public murals with political and social themes, often addressing class struggle, labor rights, and anti-imperialism. Born in Chihuahua, Mexico, Siqueiros studied at the Escuela Nacional de Artes Plásticas and later travelled to Europe, where he encountered avant-garde currents that influenced his later technique.

In the 1920s and 1930s, he produced murals in public buildings in Mexico and abroad, experimenting with fresco techniques, cement-based materials, and a dynamic, multi-figure composition that emphasized motion and collective action. His political commitments—rooted in Marxism—shaped many commissions and made him a controversial figure at times. He spent periods in exile and conducted mural projects in various countries, including the United States and South America, reflecting his belief in art as a vehicle for social change.

Siqueiros's practice extended to installations and sculptural elements incorporated into murals, and he was known for his technical innovation and bold, often suggestive imagery. He remained actively engaged in art production until his death in Cuernavaca, Morelos, in 1974. Today, he is remembered as a central architect of 20th-century public art in Mexico and a key influence on later generations of muralists and artists.