Daniel Pontet

Last updated
Daniel Pontet
Born1957
Montevideo, Uruguay
DiedApril 11, 2022
Florida
NationalityAmerican

Daniel Pontet (1957-April 11, 2022) was a Uruguayan-born artist working in the U.S.

Contents

Biography

Early life

Pontet was born in Montevideo, Uruguay, South America, and resided in South Florida, USA from 1991 until his sudden passing on April 11, 2022. [1] Pontet developed artistically in Uruguay, under watercolor painter and art teacher Esteban Garino – who taught him the art of drawing and composition - and under artists Americo Sposito and Hector Laborde, who instilled into him the magic of color and a particular emphasis on space and shapes. He also completed courses in Art History at the School of Humanities of the University of the Republic of Uruguay. Furthermore, he studied silkscreen, photography, and computer graphics as a complement to his art education and honed his skills while working as a graphic artist at The Flyer during the mid-90s and early 2000s.

Career

The earliest stage of Pontet's work can be placed within the expressionist and the neo expressionist circles and during this time he uses drawing as a fundamental element. He opens and closes spaces and organizes his balance and refuge in the canvass with grace and strength, as well as drama and lyricism. In this period, he devotes most of his energy and power of expression to depicting a world of indifferent, dauntless, and forlorn characters. Pontet stirs these meditative beings with an expressionist glare, manifesting a deep and underlying reflection on the human condition. He also creates unique rhythmical and chromatic consonances throughout these motifs. Pontet's early series share outstanding traits characterized by accomplished drawing, well thought-out compositions, mathematically precise structures, distortions and deliberate elongations, as well as the use of a rich polychrome palette of tones and hues.

During the early 2000s, he immersed in a plastic period called “Metamorphosis where he re-created part of an enigmatic world of symbols. From realism to abstraction, this phase of Pontet's work – teaming with feelings, thoughts, meditation, and lyricism - is eminently plastic. His compositions, far from being descriptive, narrative or literary, are true plastic records of thoughts expressed in two- or three-dimensional surfaces. These works of art or “collages” look like accurate maps where we can find a path to think and reflect about our own spiritual life. This series is also characterized by colors extracted from the soil – from brown to red oxide – and incrusted objects – keys, nails, washers, piece of fabrics, threads - which become powerful symbols and metaphors. Each symbol carries a profound spiritual message.

Daniel Pontet started exhibiting in 1975 and participated in more than 200 art shows. He received several prizes and acknowledgments and showed his creativity had no end. Effort and devotion were his most precious tools along with truthfulness.

As the Chilean writer Antonio Landauro once said about Daniel Pontet: “It goes without saying that this creative artist, like all genuine artists, always attained self-expression, whether he was understood, half understood, or not at all.”

Education

Acknowledgments

Miami Dade College. Miami - FL, 1998. Honor student. Outstanding Academic Achievement. Membership at the Honor Society Phi Theta Kappa. Recognition at National Dean's List - US.

Awards

Stages

Bibliography

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References

  1. Erblat, Austen (April 18, 2022). "Daniel Pontet, an artist known for his paintings, courtroom sketches and political cartoons, has died". Sun Sentinel .