Josep Guinovart
Encyclopedia
Josep Guinovart was a Spanish Catalan painter most famous for his informalist or abstract expressionist work.
In 1941, he began to work as a decorator. Three years later, he started his studies at the Escuela de Artes y Oficios de la Llotja (Art School of La Llotja) where he stayed until 1946.
He first exhibited his work in 1948 in Galerías Syla in Barcelona
. In 1951, he produced his first engravings entitled 'Homage to Federico García Lorca
'. Two years later, he was awarded a grant from the French Institute to study in Paris for nine months. Here he discovered the cubist works of Matisse and Picasso and travelled to Belgium, Holland and Germany.
On his return to Barcelona and after a period working as an illustrator and set designer, around 1957 he began moving towards abstract art
. His work is highly unconventional and usually on a large scale, using a wide range of materials, three dimensional objects and organic substances such as eggshell, earth and straw.
In 1962, he illustrated a book of poetry entitled 'Posies' by Joan Salvat-Papasseit
for the Ariel Editorial. He won many accolades for his work throughout the 1970s and 80s.
In 1994, a museum foundation dedicated to his art was inaugurated in Agramunt
, his mother's birthplace to which he always felt a special attachment.
He died on 12th December 2007 at the age of 80, a few days after suffering a heart attack.
In 1941, he began to work as a decorator. Three years later, he started his studies at the Escuela de Artes y Oficios de la Llotja (Art School of La Llotja) where he stayed until 1946.
He first exhibited his work in 1948 in Galerías Syla in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
. In 1951, he produced his first engravings entitled 'Homage to Federico García Lorca
Federico García Lorca
Federico del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús García Lorca was a Spanish poet, dramatist and theatre director. García Lorca achieved international recognition as an emblematic member of the Generation of '27. He is believed to be one of thousands who were summarily shot by anti-communist death squads...
'. Two years later, he was awarded a grant from the French Institute to study in Paris for nine months. Here he discovered the cubist works of Matisse and Picasso and travelled to Belgium, Holland and Germany.
On his return to Barcelona and after a period working as an illustrator and set designer, around 1957 he began moving towards abstract art
Abstract art
Abstract art uses a visual language of form, color and line to create a composition which may exist with a degree of independence from visual references in the world. Western art had been, from the Renaissance up to the middle of the 19th century, underpinned by the logic of perspective and an...
. His work is highly unconventional and usually on a large scale, using a wide range of materials, three dimensional objects and organic substances such as eggshell, earth and straw.
In 1962, he illustrated a book of poetry entitled 'Posies' by Joan Salvat-Papasseit
Joan Salvat-Papasseit
Joan Salvat-Papasseit was a Catalan poet, though he also wrote articles, manifestos and other prose of a political and social nature. He wrote primarily in Catalan, although he had an early period of essay-writing in Spanish.His work is notable for its nonconformity, idealism and foreboding of...
for the Ariel Editorial. He won many accolades for his work throughout the 1970s and 80s.
In 1994, a museum foundation dedicated to his art was inaugurated in Agramunt
Agramunt
Agramunt is a municipality in the comarca of the Urgell in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated in the north of the comarca, near the border with the Noguera....
, his mother's birthplace to which he always felt a special attachment.
He died on 12th December 2007 at the age of 80, a few days after suffering a heart attack.
Museum and Public Collections
- Casa de las Américas, La Habana.
- Fine Arts Museum of Long Island. Nueva York.
- Colección del Museo de Arte Contemporáneo, Barcelona.
- Museo de Arte Moderno, México DF.
- Museo de Escultura al Aire Libre, Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
- Museo de Navarra, Tafalla.
- Museo Provincial de Vitoria.
- Museo de la Solidaridad Salvador Allende, Santiago de Chile.
- Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Alejandría.
- Museo de Arte Moderno, Barcelona.
- Museo Balaguer, Vilanova i la Geltrú, Barcelona.
- Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao.
- Museo Guggenheim, Nueva York.
- Museo de Lissone, Milano.
- Museo de Sant Pol de Mar, Barcleona
- Museo de Marcay, Venezuela.
- Museo de Arte Contemporáneo, Caracas.
- Museo Carrillo Gil, México.
- Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid.
- Museo de San Telmo, San Sebastián.
- Museo de Bocchum, Alemania.
- Colección Fundación "La Caixa", Barcelona.
- Colección Palacio de Justicia de Vitoria, Alava.
- Colección Patriomio Nacional, Madrid.
- Colección Fundación Juan March, Madrid.
- Coelcción Fons de la Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona.
- Colección The Chase Manhattan Bank, Nueva York.
- Colección Caja de Ahorros de la Inmaculada, Zaragoza.
- Colección Diari Avui, Barcelona.
- Colección Eina, Barcelona.
- Ayuntamiento de Barcelona.
- Colección del Museo de Arte Contemporáneo, Madrid.
- Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Cáceres.
- Museo de Arte Contemporáneo Villafamés, Castellón de la Plana.
- Museo Eusebio Sempere, Alicante.