Emilio Pettoruti was born in La Plata, Argentina, of Italian parents. In 1913 he went to Italy, where he came in contact with the Italian avant-garde (Marinetti, and later with the Balla and Chirico group). In 1921 he went to Munich, and in 1923 was invited to exhibit at Der Sturm gallery in Berlin. He returned home in 1924, opening an exhibition in Buenos Aires which introduced modernism to Argentina. While continuing to paint, Pettoruti taught at the university and served as director of the Fine Arts Museum in La Plata. In 1952 he returned to Europe, and settled in Paris for the rest of his life.
Biographical/Historical Note
Emilio Pettoruti was born in La Plata, Argentina, of Italian parents. In 1913 he went to Italy, where he came in contact with the Italian avantgarde (F. T. Marinetti, and later the group around Giacomo Balla and Giorgio de Chirico). In 1921 he went to Munich and in 1923 was invited to exhibit at Der Sturm gallery in Berlin. He returned home in 1924, opening an exhibit of his work in Buenos Aires at the Witcomb gallery. Pettoruti taught at the university and served as director of the Fine Arts museum in La Plata while continuing to paint. In 1952 he returned to Europe and in 1953 he settled in Paris, where he lived for the rest of his life.