# Edgar Negret artist context and auction value notes

Canonical page: https://appraisily.com/artist/edgar-negret/
Profile generated: 2026-05-18T18:31:09.443Z
Quality: high confidence, strong sources

## Artist identity

- Birth date: 1920-10-11
- Death date: 2012-10-11
- Nationality: Colombian
- Movements: Abstract Sculpture
- Common media: sculpture

## About Edgar Negret

Édgar Negret Dueñas (1920–2012) was a Colombian sculptor recognized as one of Latin America's most significant abstract artists. Born in Colombia on October 11, 1920, Negret developed a distinctive sculptural language rooted in geometric abstraction, creating works that combine industrial precision with expressive form. He spent formative periods abroad, absorbing modernist ideas that he channeled into a body of work characterized by carefully constructed metal forms and bold color. His sculptures are held in major international museum collections, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Negret lived and worked for much of his career between Colombia and other art centers, returning to Bogotá where he died on October 11, 2012, his 92nd birthday. His legacy places him among the defining figures of modern Latin American sculpture.

## Common works and media

Negret is best known for his abstract metal sculptures, typically constructed from sheet metal and often painted in vivid colors. These range from tabletop-scale geometric constructions to large-scale public works. Collectors may also encounter works on paper, preparatory drawings, and maquettes related to his sculptural projects. His sculptures frequently feature interlocking planes, spirals, and arching forms inspired by industrial and natural motifs.

## Market and appraisal context

Edgar Negret's sculptures appear at auction primarily within Latin American Art sales and post-war sculpture categories. His institutional presence in collections such as the Museum of Modern Art supports strong collector interest. Key factors affecting appraisal include the sculpture's medium and materials, scale, provenance, exhibition history, condition, and whether the work dates from a recognized period of his output. Auction results for his metal sculptures have ranged widely depending on size and significance. Collectors should verify attribution, confirm provenance documentation, and consult comparable public auction records when evaluating a Negret work.

## Appraisily data basis

Appraisily artist pages combine artist identity research from museum records, library authority files, and biographical sources with auction records, auction-house context, sale dates, realized prices, and comparable lots when those records are available. For Edgar Negret, identity data is grounded in the Getty Union List of Artist Names, VIAF, the RKD Netherlands Institute for Art History, Wikidata, the Library of Congress, and the Museum of Modern Art collection record.

## Sources

- Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q573192
- RKD - Netherlands Institute for Art History: https://rkd.nl/en/explore/artists/314344
- VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/96490080/
- Getty Vocabulary Program: https://vocab.getty.edu/page/ulan/500108151
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89dgar_Negret
- The Museum of Modern Art: https://www.moma.org/artists/4255
- Library of Congress: https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n84231447
