Juan Oliveira Viéitez

Juan Oliveira Viéitez
Os cabalos at the Plaza de España, Vigo
Born
Juan José Oliveira Viéitez

(1928-10-22)22 October 1928
Pazos de Reis, Tui, Spain
Died16 April 2002(2002-04-16) (aged 73)
Vigo, Spain
EducationComplutense University of Madrid
OccupationSculptor
Known forMonumental sculpture
ChildrenMercedes Oliveira Malvar
AwardsCastelao Medal (2001)

Juan José Oliveira Viéitez (22 October 1928 – 16 April 2002) was a Spanish sculptor from Galicia, known for large-scale bronze figures of horses and bulls installed in public spaces across Spain.[1][2] His best-known work is Os cabalos (The Horses), a 20-metre fountain sculpture at the Plaza de España, Vigo.[1] He received the Castelao Medal in 2001.[3]

Life

Oliveira was born in Pazos de Reis, a parish of Tui, into a family that owned the biscuit factory La Peninsular.[4] He studied industrial engineering at the Complutense University of Madrid.[1] Back in Galicia, he became a businessman and served as president of the Tui Chamber of Commerce from 1959 to 1969.[4] He also held the post of vice-consul of Portugal in Tui.[1]

A horse breeder who competed in equestrian events, Oliveira did not begin sculpting until he was past forty.[1][4] His work focused on monumental animal figures, particularly horses.[5] He also modelled sporting, bullfighting, and children's subjects.[1]

He died on 16 April 2002 in Vigo.[1] His daughter, Mercedes Oliveira Malvar, is a philosopher and feminist writer.[2]

Works

Oliveira's sculptures are installed in several Spanish cities. In Vigo, his most prominent works include Os cabalos (The Horses), a 20-metre bronze fountain at the Plaza de España, Vigo; O rapto de Europa (The Abduction of Europa), a 7-metre, 1,500-kilogram bronze at the Samil Beach roundabout erected in 1991; and two equestrian figures on the roof of the Teatro García Barbón.[1][6][7]

Elsewhere in Spain, he created Pegaso for Madrid–Barajas Airport[8] and a monumental dog sculpture for the zoo at the Casa de Campo in Madrid.[9] Other works include a monument to Alfonso IX in Baiona and a wild horse sculpture in Tui.[1] His output also extended to Guadalajara and Menorca.[2]

Awards

Oliveira won a gold medal at the first Bienal de Pontevedra art exhibition.[5] In 2001, the Xunta de Galicia awarded him the Castelao Medal.[3]

  • Os cabalos, Plaza de España, Vigo
  • Wild horse monument, Tui
  • Monument to Alfonso IX, Baiona
  • Equestrian figure, Teatro García Barbón

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Juan Oliveira Viéitez.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i González, Eva (23 June 2007). "Una retrospectiva reúne en Tui una treintena de obras de Oliveira". Faro de Vigo (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  2. ^ a b c "Biografía de Juan Oliveira". Afundación. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  3. ^ a b "Bautismo de «galeguidade»". La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 28 June 2001. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  4. ^ a b c "I Premio de Escultura, in memoriam de Juan José Oliveira..." GaliciaDigital (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  5. ^ a b "Los caballos de Juan José Oliveira" (PDF). ABC (in Spanish). 20 February 1970. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 April 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  6. ^ "O rapto de Europa". Turismo de Vigo (in Galician). Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  7. ^ "Imaxes dos cabalos do Teatro García Barbón". Vigo en Fotos. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  8. ^ "Pegaso". Escultura y Arte. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  9. ^ "Al Perro". Escultura y Arte. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
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