Diego Menéndez

Born in Buenos Aires, Diego Menéndez cultivated an interest in art from a very young age. Surrounded by books on modern art, it was early on that he discovered Modigliani's nudes, Rousseau's jungles and Picasso's distorted faces. As a young man, he attended the Manuel Belgrano National School of Fine Arts. At the time, Argentina was enduring a period of military dictatorship. Such a difficult political situation was a significant source of inspiration for Menéndez' artistic development. Then came his discovery of Expressionism, including the work of Van Gogh and Egon Schiele's subversive drawings, which further influenced his style.

In the spring of 1981, he moved to Paris, putting the years of living under a dictatorship behind him. Since then, he has widened his network and held a number of exhibitions, gradually becoming more and more successful. 

His style is characterised by bright, contrasting colors; as well as having a particularly charismatic interpretation of figural form. Indeed, his sharply-contoured faces are surprisingly gentle, and his nudes exude a compelling mix of sensuality and intensity.

Today, Menéndez is affiliated with the Maison des Artistes association and works from his studio in Montpellier.