Clemente Padín

Clemente Padín (Rocha, Uruguay, 1939) is a poet, performer, and visual artist recognized as a key figure in concrete poetry and mail art in Latin America. He holds a degree in Hispanic Literature from the University of the Republic and was imprisoned for opposing Uruguay's dictatorship. He directed publications like OVUM 10 and Correo del Sur, and participated in over 1,200 mail art shows worldwide. He exhibited across the Americas, Europe, and Asia, and was invited to major biennials such as São Paulo, Havana, Cuenca, and Thessaloniki. Padín has authored over 25 books published internationally and received awards including the Pedro Figari Prize (Uruguay, 2005) and the Bernard Heidsieck Honor Prize from Centre Pompidou (France, 2019). His archive is held at the University of the Republic.