Early Life and Education

• Born: April 4, 1915, Danzig, Germany (now Gdańsk, Poland)
• Died: August 4, 1990, Mexico City
• Origin: German-Mexican
• Early life was spent in Berlin after his birth in Danzig.
• Studied philosophy and art history at Friedrich-Wilhelm-Universität (Humboldt University of Berlin) from 1934.
• Received a doctorate in art history in 1940 with a dissertation on Ferdinand von Rayski.
• Trained as an artist at the Kunstgewerbe- und Handwerkerschule in Berlin-Charlottenberg, studying drawing with Max Kaus and Hans Orlowski.

Career Development and Artistic Style

• Worked at Berlin's Nationalgalerie (Alte Nationalgalerie) under Paul Ortwin Rave.
• Left Germany in 1941, settling initially in Tetuan, Morocco.
• Married photographer Marianne Gast in 1942 and settled in Granada, Spain.
• First solo exhibition held in Madrid in 1946.
• Immigrated to Mexico in 1949.
• Collaborated with architect Luis Barragán on monumental abstract sculptures in reinforced concrete (e.g., *El Animal del Pedregal*, *Torres de la Ciudad Satélite*).
• Artistic style influenced by Expressionism, emphasizing subjective experience and emotional impact through distorted forms.

Notable Works and Contributions

• Sculptures: El Eco (Experimental Museum, Mexico City), *Los Amantes* (Hotel Presidente, Acapulco), *La Mano Divina*, *La Mano Codiciosa* (reliefs in the Iglesia de San Lorenzo, Mexico City).
• Developed the concept of "Emotional Architecture," emphasizing emotional and spiritual aspects in building design.
• His work visually and conceptually influenced contemporary architects.

Recognition and Legacy

• Received the Pritzker Prize in 1980, a significant recognition for his contributions to architecture.
• Goeritz's legacy extends beyond individual artworks; he significantly impacted architectural theory and practice through Emotional Architecture.
• His work continues to be studied and appreciated for its innovative blend of art, architecture, and emotional expression.

Further Information

• Wikipedia: Mathias Goeritz - Wikipedia
• Tate: Mathias Goeritz 1915–1990 | Tate