Marcia Schvartz (born March 24, 1955) is an Argentinian painter, illustrator and ceramic artist primarily known for her feminist figurative paintings.
Marcia Schvartz was born March 24, 1955, in Buenos Aires. Schvartz grew up with progressive parents. Schvartz's mother, named Hebe Clementi, was both a historian and professor. Clementi wrote extensively about indigenous culture and critiqued chattel slavery. Her father Gregorio Schvartz owned a notable bookstore. His bookstore was known for lending books to those who could not afford to buy them.
From the time she was young, Schvartz created art. In 1970 when Schvartz was 15, she began studying art at the Escuela de Bellas Artes Manuel Belgrano. Schvartz was introduced to Aída Carballo here. Carballo became an influential mentor and teacher in Schvartz's early life. Schvartz left the Escuela de Bellas Artes Manuel Belgrano before graduating. In the 1970s, Schvartz was a member of the Peronist Youth movement. In 1976 the leftist leader Isabel Perón was overthrown in a coup. In 1979, during this time of civil unrest Schvartz self-exiled to Spain after the disappearance of her best friend in 1977.
Schvartz's work is heavily influenced by the disappearances during the aftermath of the coup of Isabel Perón and by the tragedies of the AIDS crisis, both of which Schvartz lost friends to. In 1983, Schvartz returned to Argentina.
Schvart's has received recognition and has shown her work around the world (3). Schvarts has remained living in Argentina after her return in 1983. Today she teaches and paints in Buenos Aires.