There wasn’t much in the way of art that Roberto Burle Marx couldn’t do. He was a painter, print-maker, sculptor, stage designer, jeweler, musician, tapestry-maker and one of the leading landscape architects in the 20th century. Marx’s passion for art, in all forms, strengthened his ability to design landscapes.
Born in São Paulo, Marx’s interest in botany was inspired by his Pernambucan mother while he was growing up in Rio de Janeiro. Later, Marx went on to spend time painting in Germany. It was there that Marx became further fascinated by botanical gardens and how they work. Marx would go on to reveal to Brazil a new vision. A vision of what landscaping can be - botanically, socially, and aesthetically.
The common thread between all of the arts that Marx practiced was the artistic process. By learning different artistic forms, Marx was able to learn from the creative process in different ways. He explored new techniques and Brazilian cultural identity. Marx was praised for his technique, mastery, and experimentation.
