Juan Nicolás Melé was an Argentine sculptor, painter, and art critic. Melé was a member of the Asociación Arte Concreto-Invención as well as co-founder of the Grupo Arte Nuevo.
Early life and education
Melé was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Melé credits his father, who drew and painted, with introducing him to the arts. In 1935 at 11 years old Melé began to study drawing and painting under the guidance of artist Enrique Rodríguez. In 1938, Melé attended the Escuela de Bellas Artes Manuel Belgrano where he studied until 1945. During his time at the Escuela de Bellas Artes Manuel Belgrano he befriended fellow artists Gregorio Vardánega and Tomás Maldonado. In 1945, upon graduating from the Escuela de Bellas Artes Manuel Belgrano Melé began teaching art at the Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes Prilidiano Pueyrredón in Buenos Aires. In 1948 Melé was awarded a scholarship by the French government to study at the École du Louvre. During his studies in Paris Melé studied at Sonia Delaunay and Georges Vantongerloo's studio.
Career
In 1946 Melé joined the Asociación Arte Concreto-Invención, a concrete art group formed in 1945 by Tomás Maldonado, Lidy Prati, Alfredo Hlito, Raúl Lozza, among others. Melé participated in the group's third exhibition organized in October 1946 at the Argentinian Society of Plastic Arts. In September 1948, along with fellow artists Carmelo Arden Quin and Gregorio Vardánega, Melé traveled to Europe eventually settling in Paris. Once in Paris Melé received a scholarship from the French Government to study at the École du Louvre. That same year in Paris Melé exhibited works at the Salon des Réalités Nouvelles and at the Maison de l'Amerique Latine. The following year Melé traveled to Italy where he met several concrete artists and exhibited work at the librería Salto in Milan. That same year while traveling in Switzerland Melé met Swiss artist and leading theorist of concrete art Max Bill. Melé returned to Buenos Aires in 1950 and began to write as an art critic for several publications. Upon his return to Argentina Melé also took a position as an art history professor at his alma mater, the Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes where he remained until 1961. In 1953 Melé participated in the II Bienal de São Pablo as well as the XII Salón de Arte Mar del Plata and the Salón Anual de la Provincia de Corrientes where he was awarded third prize. In 1955 Melé, along with Carmelo Arden Quin, Gregorio Vardáneg and others, co-founded the Asociación Arte Nuevo. In 1961 Melé traveled to the United States where he stayed until his return to Buenos Aires in 1971. Melé returned to the United States in 1974 and settled in New York City where he held several exhibitions. Melé returned to Buenos Aires in 1986. Beginning in 1990 Melé lived between Buenos Aires and Paris. Melé was awarded the Alberto J. Trabucco award by the Academia Nacional de Bellas Artes in 1997.
