Cruz-Diez, Venezuelan kinetic artist, dies in Paris at 95

[July 29, 2019]  CARACAS (Reuters) - Carlos Cruz-Diez, a Venezuelan artist who shaped the field of kinetic and optical art during the 20th century, died in Paris on Saturday, his foundation said on its website on Sunday. He was 95.

Born in Caracas in 1923, he moved to France in 1960 after studying at Caracas' School of Fine Arts. His abstract works are defined by the use of color and lines to create the impression of movement, and are on display at museums including New York's Museum of Modern Art, London's Tate Modern, and Caracas' Museum of Fine Arts.

"It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of our beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Carlos Eduardo Cruz-Diez," the foundation wrote. "Your love, your joy, your teachings and your colors will remain forever in our hearts."

Despite living much of his life in Paris, he left his mark in his native Venezuela, most notably through the colorful murals lining the walls and floors of the Simon Bolivar International Airport serving Caracas.

While he rarely commented publicly on his home country's turbulent politics, he recently expressed regret at living much of his life abroad.

"I regret not being able to have developed my artistic life in my country, surrounded by my people," Cruz-Diez told Venezuela's El Nacional newspaper in a 2014 interview.

(Reporting by Deisy Buitrago and Eyanir Chinea; Writing by Luc Cohen; Editing by Andrea Ricci)

[© 2019 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2019 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.