Antoni Tàpies 

Antoni Tàpies (1923-2012) was born in Barcelona. His father, a lawyer and Catalan nationalist, served a brief tenure in the Spanish government – this exposure impacted greatly Tàpies’ views and upbringing. Tàpies fell ill as a teen, a serious illness that placed him under a doctor’s care – that doctor was a childhood friend of Pablo Picasso, and would introduce Tàpies and Picasso in Paris several years later. Tàpies studied law for several years before giving it up to dedicate his life to art. 

Tàpies has cited several influences and has been associated with several art movements throughout the course of his career – Surrealism and Art Informel (similar to Abstract Expressionism) being the most prominent. In addition to his time with Picasso, Tàpies also met Joan Miró in 1948- Tàpies listed Miró as one of his great role models. 

War and post-war Spain factored heavily into Tàpies’ works – many of his mixed media paintings reflect his history of living through the Spanish Civil War (which took place from 1936-1939). More specifically, Tàpies is internationally recognized for his “matter paintings” – mixed media paintings and collages often incorporating detritus, earth, stone, and other materials. (Late in life, Tàpies would include larger items, such as shoes, clothing, and pieces of furniture in his paintings.) 

Exhibits featuring and retrospectives of Tàpies’ works have been held across the globe. His first exhibit was held at the “controversial” Salo d’octubre in Barcelona in 1948. From 1953 onwards, Martha Jackson Gallery in New York exhibited Tàpies’ works (in both group and solo exhibits). Since that time, his works have graced the walls of Carnegie International (Pittsburgh), the Museu Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia (Madrid), the Guggenheim (New York), Tate Gallery (London), Museum of Modern Art (New York), and may be viewed at the Fundació Antoni Tàpies Museum in Barcelona.