Internationally acclaimed sculptor and printmaker Francisco Zuñiga was born in Guadalupe, Costa Rica on December 26, 1912. The son of a religious sculptor and woodcarver, he studied with his father early on before turning to formal education. His attempt to study classical art in Europe was thwarted by the Spanish Civil War, and he traveled instead to Mexico. He studied drawing, stone sculpture, and engraving at the School of Fine Arts in San Jose. Later, in 1936, he studied stone carving at La Esmeralda in Mexico City. He was appointed to the faculty of La Esmeralda where he remained until his retirement in 1970. Zuniga's art reflects a love and respect for Central American people and traditions, and illustrates the beginning of the powerful influence of traditional Mexican and Latin culture on the world of art.

In 1972, he created his first lithograph. As a complement to his emotionally powerful sculpture, Zuniga's prints articulate the sensitivity and sensuality of the human figure- in particular, the strong, powerful figure of the matriarchal female of his cultural heritage.,

Zuniga was the recipient of numerous international prizes and awards. His work is exhibited frequently in prominent galleries throughout the world and may be found in the permanent collections of twenty-nine museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Los Angeles County Museum, the Mexican Museum in San Francisco, and the Phoenix Art Museum. His influence remains far-reaching.

Francisco Zuniga died in Mexico City on August 9, 1998.