Xul Solar: Visions and Revelations January 29–April 16, 2006

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Argentinean artist Alejandro Xul Solar was a painter, sculptor, and architect as well as a lifelong seeker of philosophical, spiritual, and aesthetic understanding. Xul Solar: Visions and Revelations traces his path on a quest that spanned half of the 20th century. The artist's colorful paintings reflect his study of astrology, music, complex theories of language and writing, and the beliefs of numerous world religions.

Xul Solar (1887–1963) was one of Argentina’s most important proponents of avant-garde art, and his philosophically and spiritually inspired works are the focus this exhibition making its U.S. premiere at the MFAH, the sole North American venue on the tour. Visions and Revelations features more than 90 paintings in oil, tempera, and watercolor—many of which have never been exhibited—including Jefa (Patroness), newly acquired for the MFAH collection of Latin American art.

The paintings reflect Solar’s study of music, astrology, language and writing, and world religions, and are rendered in a unique style that incorporates flat backgrounds, geometrized figures, and image/word collages. The installation is presented in thematic sections that trace Solar’s artistic development from works made in 1913 through those completed in the early 1960s.