Josep Guinovart

Considered one of the most outstanding Spanish painters of the post-war period for his diverse modes of expression over a career spanning more than half a century, Josep Guinovart was born in Barcelona on March 20, 1927.

Near the end of the Spanish Civil War, he began working as a wall painter in the family workshop while learning the trade at the Escuela de Maestros Pintores. In 1943, he left to enroll in the School of Arts and Crafts in Barcelona (Escuela de la Lonja). He held his first exhibition on December 5, 1948, at the Syra Gallery in Barcelona.

A trip to Madrid in 1950 led him to discover the great masters at the Prado Museum, who made a deep impression on him and strengthened his work.

In 1951, Guinovart abandoned his job as a wall painter and devoted himself entirely to painting, moving to Paris in 1953 with a grant from the French state. This allowed him to become acquainted with avant-garde movements such as Cubism.

Upon his return to Barcelona, he collaborated with architects and worked on illustrations and stage sets. Along with Catalan artists like Tharrats, Marc Aleu, Jaume Muxart, Antoni Tàpies, and Modest Cuixart, he founded the Taüll Group, that brought together the post-war Catalan avant-garde, facilitating movements such as Surrealism, Informalism, and Dadaism.

His style evolved from an initial figurative phase to abstraction close to Informalism, characterized by a freedom of gesture and material treatment. His use of colour is rich and powerful, often inspired by nature, which brings a certain lyricism to his compositions.

In 1957 and 1958, he participated in several group exhibitions, including the São Paulo Biennial in 1957 and the Venice Biennial in 1958.

During these years, his production was multifaceted: he worked on engravings, drawings, posters, painting, sculpture, theatrical scenery, tapestries, and more.

At the end of the 1950s, he began producing numerous works for public spaces in cities such as Palma de Mallorca, Castelldefels, and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

In 1992, the Catalan pavilion at the Seville Expo exhibited his works.

In 1994, the Espai Guinovart Museum and the Josep Guinovart Foundation were inaugurated in Agramunt (Lleida), his mother's hometown, to which he was always very attached.

The last major anthology exhibition of Guinovart’s work was held at La Pedrera in Barcelona in 2002, bringing together sixty of his oil paintings.

Among his last works was the design for the Mas Blanch i Jové winery in La Pobla de Cérvoles in 2007. On December 12 of that year, he died from an acute heart attack at the age of 80.

His long and intense artistic career is recognized by numerous awards, including the National Prize for Plastic Arts in 1982.

Exhibited Work:

“Havana”, 1972
Mixed media