Francisco Zúñiga

Mexican, 1912-1988

A defining voice in 20th-century Latin American sculpture, Francisco Zúñiga was born in Costa Rica and built his artistic legacy in Mexico. Trained by his father, a professional sculptor, Zúñiga pursued formal studies at the University of San José before relocating to Mexico City in the 1930s—a move that shaped the trajectory of his career. 

Zúñiga became known for his powerful depictions of women, often indigenous and monumental in scale, rendered with a profound sensitivity to form and cultural identity. His figures, whether nude or wrapped in traditional rebozos, reflect both ancestral heritage and a distinctly modern sensibility. 

He taught for decades at Mexico’s Escuela de Talla Directa and maintained a prolific studio practice well into his later years. Zúñiga’s sculptures are housed in major institutions including the San Diego Museum of Art, the New Mexico Museum of Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. His work remains a cornerstone of modern Latin American art and continues to bridge tradition with sculptural clarity.