Charlotte Yazbek

Charlotte Mata Rascála (1919–1989) known as Charlotte Yazbek after her husband Jose Yazbek, was a sculptor.

Charlotte Mata Rascála of Lebanese descent was born in Puebla in 1919. She lived with her father since her mother had died early. After an initial marriage and divorce, she met her second husband, Jose Yazbek and took his family name and became known in the art world as Charlotte Yazbek.

She studied art with Uxio Souto in 1957 and later, artistic anatomy with Hermilio Castañeda. Some of her other notable teachers were Pedro Medina Guzman and Manuel Giner de los Rios for drawing and painting and Mathias Goeritz in art history.

Her first exhibition was in 1960, and in 1962 she had her first solo show. Adolfo López Mateos presented her a recognition in 1964 for 17 sculptures that were placed in the Mexican Pavilion at the New York's World Fair.

With international acclaim she was able to hold more than 100 exhibitions of her work throughout the world. She was the subject of several books, magazine articles and a film documentary. She died in 1989, leaving behind a legacy of great works that can be found in public places such as the Parque de las Esculturas in Cuautitlan Izcalli and the Charlotte Yazbek Plaza in Mexico City's Bosque de Chapultepec.