Graciela Rodo Boulanger

(Bolivian, b. 1935)

“The mountains in Bolivia are a drab color, very brown, very grey, and the people wear intensely bright colors…
This light is very limpid and crystal clear, and the colors have a special resonance.”
— Boulanger

Boulanger is most known for her high-spirited paintings that juxtapose whimsical, colorful figures against neutral backgrounds as a nod to her home country. She creatively balances interesting figures, textures and pattern, as well as her palette between brilliant and muted colors, culminating whimsical compositions that brighten any room. She paints fleeting moments of beauty that we all experience, portrayed through the innocent lens of a child. A recurring theme in her art is children, including the special bond that can be formed between children and animals, music, and the experience of play. Overall, her content evokes moods of joy and happiness.

Born in 1935 in La Paz, Bolivia, Graciela was raised in an artistic environment that influenced her to study music from an early age. She traveled to Chile, Austria, and Argentina to further her piano skills, but at the age of 25, decided she would devote herself to a new creative expression: painting. Her first one-woman show was in 1953 in Vienna. Boulanger works in a variety of mediums including oils, etching, lithography, watercolors, pastels, sculpture, and tapestry.

More than 150 Boulanger exhibitions have been held around the world. In 1979, UNICEF designated Boulanger as the official artist for the International Year of the Child poster. In 1993, the World Federation of the United Nations chose one of her oil paintings to illustrate a stamp issue and accompanying limited edition print with the theme of endangered species. Many prominent institutions collect works by Boulanger, including The Museum of Modern Art of Latin America, the Bibliothèque nationale De France in Paris, the Museum of Modern Art in La Paz, and the Modern Art Center in Zurich.

American Fine Art, Inc., represents this internationally acclaimed master whose unique works invite our inner child to come out and play, whether riding a tricycle, playing an instrument, or playing with animals. Visit our 12,000 sq. ft. showroom in Scottsdale, Arizona or call today. Our website is offered only as a limited place to browse or refresh your memory and is not a reflection of our current inventory. To learn more about collecting, pricing, value, or any other art information, please contact one of our International Art Consultants. We look forward to giving you the one-on-one attention you deserve when building your fine art collection.  We hope you find our website helpful and look forward to seeing you in Scottsdale soon.