Olger Villegas

Born 1934

The Costa Rican sculptor and painter Ólger Villegas is the winner of the 2010 Magón National Culture Prize, the highest recognition granted by the Costa Rican State to a writer, artist or scientist for the work of a lifetime.

“Villegas stands out as one of the best sculptors in Costa Rican history, due to his originality, his refined sensibility, his style, the formal expression of his aesthetic ideal, his experimentation with various materials and his exceptional mastery of drawing and sculpture techniques. ”, Emphasizes the minutes.

In addition, the jury highlighted the themes in Villegas's work: “many of his pieces evoke family life, childhood and friendship.  Part of his production represents an enormous respect and admiration for black culture ”, and adds:“ his legacy exalts the values ??of coexistence, tenderness and work ”.  The figure of women, another of the constants in Villegas' sculptural production, was also mentioned by the panel: “It is manifested in a large number of maternity wards, in its version of eroticism and female corporality, in multiple embraces that link the ages  of human existence ”.  A life dedicated to sculpture.

His first teachers were Néstor Zeledón and Zenén Zeledón Guzmán.  He subsequently studied at the University of Costa Rica and then specialized in Mexico with renowned masters of sculpture.  He has taught at multiple institutions, such as the Liceo de San José, Liceo Rodrigo Facio, Conservatorio de Castella and the National University, among others.  The sculptor is also three times the Aquileo J. Echeverría Prize (1975, 1979 and 1989) in sculpture and the 1987 Áncora Prize.