Kennedy Bahia Needlepoint Tapestry, "Tucano"

"Tucano" by Patrick Kennedy Maderos (1929-2005) wool needlepoint wall tapestry of two birds on pink background; signed to top "Kennedy Bahia"; with four wood slats to back; measures approximately 39" x 24-9/16"; in Good overall condition with no apparent staining and very minimal wear (missing stitches in some places).Kennedy Bahia was born Maderos Patrick Kennedy, in 1929 in Valparaiso, Chile. He was a mining engineer in his country and came into contact with the exoticism of Brazilian fauna & flora for the first time when working in the Amazon region. Malaria drove him from his engineering career into that of upholstery, & the jungle impressions of the Amazon were characterized in his work. He moved to Bahia in the 1960s, where he began to include folk motifs of African-Bahian culture in his designs. Known nationally and internationally, Kennedy Bahia was a pioneer in the expansion of the plastic arts in the state and was known for his cheerful and colorful tapestries. Additionally, he was well known by his paintings and prints of beautiful mulattos. The artist also contributed to the dissemination of Bahian culture by adopting the name of the State and disseminating information about Bahia to all countries where traveling with his works.