Graciela Rodo Boulanger (Bolivian, b. 1935), Girl with Birds

Pastel on paper, 1983, signed and inscribed "G. Rodo Boulanger / La Paz 1985" at lower right, float mounted and framed under Plexiglass.

Sheet size 26 x 20 in.; Frame dimensions 40 1/2 x 34 1/4 in.

Private Collection, Napa Valley, California; Boston, Massachusetts; and Raleigh, North Carolina

Graciela Rodo Boulanger, born in 1935 in La Paz, Bolivia, is a distinguished painter renowned for her vibrant depictions of children and musical themes. Influenced by her mother, a concert pianist, and her father, an art connoisseur, she pursued both music and art from an early age. By 15, she was performing piano recitals, and at 18, she held her first art exhibitions in Vienna and Salzburg. At 22, Boulanger chose to focus solely on painting, studying etching and printmaking under Johnny Friedlaender in Paris. Her distinctive style, characterized by stylized renderings of children, began to gain international recognition in the 1960s.

Throughout her career, Boulanger has been honored with numerous accolades. In 1979, UNICEF designated her as the official artist for the International Year of the Child, featuring her artwork on a commemorative poster. Her works have been exhibited in over 200 exhibitions across five continents, including a retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art of Latin America in Washington, D.C., in 1983. Boulanger's art continues to captivate audiences worldwide, celebrated for its joyful portrayal of childhood and its harmonious blend of color and form.

Good estate condition; pinholes to both top corners, as placed by the artist during the creation process.