A Colombian artist recognized among the pioneers of abstraction in Latin America. He began his studies at the Faculty of Architecture of the National University of Colombia and later obtained his degree in architecture from the University of Florida in 1952. His interest in the visual arts led him to the renowned Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan, where he completed a Master of Fine Arts under the mentorship of Wallace Mitchell and Maija Grotell.
At the early age of 27, Dacunha held an exhibition at the El Callejón Gallery in Bogota in 1954, showing works influenced by international abstract movements challenging the figurative realism prevailing in the country at that time, establishing one of the most important historical references in the history of Latin American abstraction. After moving to Wilmington in 1957 to take up a teaching position, DaCunha became the head of the department at the University of Delaware's College of Art and Design from 1966 to 1969, later receiving the appointment as one of the only two University Professor Emeritus in the history of the Art’s faculty.
Solo exhibitions of Dacunha's work have been held in Bogotá, Philadelphia, Michigan, Delaware, New York, Paris, and London, as well as at the Delaware Art Museum and the Delaware Center for Contemporary Arts.
In his artistic career, Dacunha conveyed the sensory and visual effects of Hispanic traditions such as soleares in flamenco, Greek mythology, and the classics. These themes were prominent in many of his series, citing strong influences from artists such as Arshile Gorky, Paul Klee, Pablo Picasso, Roberto Matta, and Francisco de Goya.
Dacunha's work is known for its in-depth exploration of abstraction with a less rigid style than the prevailing constructivism and concretism movements of the time, which allowed him to develop a unique visual language. Dacunha's legacy is fundamental to abstract art in Colombia and highlights the relevance and originality of abstraction in Latin America.
