Timeline

1920

Born August 8 in Teana, in Basilicat Province, South Italy near Potenza

1936

Emigrated to Argentina as a mason

1942

Worked as a construction site manager while studying in the evening at the Salguero Polytechnical, Industrial, Mechanical and Architectural National School. Entered the Higher National School of Fine Arts Ernesto de la Carcova in Buenos Aires via an entrance competition. Graduated with the title of Higher Professor and obtained a professorship at that school. Won the Premio Mittre, equivalent to the European Grand Prix de Rome.

1952

Returned to Europe, settling in Paris

1956

Begins to show at the gallery Denise René, and has several solo exhibitions over the years

1976

Retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art of the City of Paris

1981

Retrospective at the Museum of Pau

1982

Represents Argentina at the Biennal of Venice

1987

Retrospective at the National Saarland Museum, Saarbrücken

1997

Represents France in the International Symposium of the Arts and the Sciences of Seoul, Korea

Lives and works in his atelier in Périgny sur Yerres (where the Dubuffet foundation is also installed)

Honors and Awards:
Premier prix de Saint Gobain awarded by a compound jury of Zadkine, Michel Seuphor and Alberto Giacometti for the artistic part
Honorary diploma of the 14th Triennial in Milan, Italy
Silver medal from the international congress of architecture, awarded by Willy Brandt, in Bochum, Germany
Two gold medals awarded by the Provincia di Basilicata and by his native village in Italy
Appointed a member of the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture of Argentina, Buenos Aires
Medal of honour from the University of Seoul, Korea
Silver medal from the general council of Val de Marne
Grand silver medal awarded by the French Academy of Architecture for the body of his work
Appointed Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres by the French government