Joaquin Torres-Garcia was a Uruguayan artist born in Montevideo in 1874. He was a painter, sculptor, and writer who played a significant role in the development of modern art in Latin America. Torres-Garcia studied art in Barcelona, Spain, where he was exposed to the works of the European avant-garde. He returned to Uruguay in 1934 and founded the Taller Torres-Garcia, a workshop that aimed to promote a new form of art that was rooted in the cultural traditions of Latin America. Torres-Garcia's work was characterized by a geometric abstraction that reflected his interest in pre-Columbian art and the principles of Constructivism. He was also a prolific writer and published several books on art theory and aesthetics. Torres-Garcia's legacy continues to influence contemporary Latin American art, and his work has been exhibited in major museums around the world. He died in Montevideo in 1949.