After attending the Academy of Castilian Letters of the National Institute of Chile in 1947, Núñez continued his studies at the Arsenal Library and the Opera in Paris from 1953 onwards. Also in the French capital, he designed the sets for Anton Chekhov’s play Uncle Vanya. He resumed his teaching position at the School of Theatre on his return to Santiago, as well as his work as a designer at the Experimental Theatre.

Guillermo Núñez’s work has been characterised by his broad capacity as a multifaceted artist. Throughout his career, Núñez has dedicated himself to different areas of creation, seeking meeting points and integration of disciplines.

Through themes that refer to historical events, wars, disputes and personal experiences, and that show and denounce violence and human destruction, Guillermo Núnez has developed his career in painting, engraving, silkscreen printing, photo silkscreen printing, graphics, installations and object art. He has also designed costumes and sets for theatre, opera and ballet, in Chile and abroad. His participation in the production of films, posters and murals with political messages, as well as his participation in the Experimental Theatre of the University of Chile and his teaching of Theatre at the university, are noteworthy.

His extensive career was recognised in 2007, when he was awarded the National Prize for Plastic Arts by the Chilean Government

In addition, Guillermo Núñez’s work is part of important public and private collections, including: Museum of Modern Art (MoMA – New York, United States), Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía (Madrid, Spain), Museo de la Solidaridad Salvador Allende (Santiago, Chile), Pushkin Museum (Moscow, Russia), Museum of Modern Art of Bogotá (Bogotá, Colombia), National Museum of Fine Arts (Santiago, Chile), Museum of Contemporary Art (Santiago, Chile), Wilhelm-Hack-Museum (Ludwigshafen, Germany), Museum of Modern Art of Chiloé (Chiloé, Chile), Art Museum of the Americas (AMA – Washington D.C., United States), Oakland Art Museum (Oakland, United States), Préfecture de La Seine-Saint-Denis (Bobigny, France).