Eduard Arranz-Bravo was born on 8 October 1941 in Catalonia, Spain, to a Basque father and an Argentinian mother. He formally trained at the San Jorge Fine Arts School in Barcelona from 1959 to 1962. The artist first caught the attention of critics in Barcelona in 1962, when the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona organized an exhibition showcasing his work.
Influences and Collaborations
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Arranz-Bravo collaborated with artists such as Gerard Sala, Robert Llimós, and Rafael Bartolozzi Lozano. Together, they embarked on both collective and individual exhibitions, influencing each other’s work while simultaneously pursuing their unique artistic voices. These collaborations resulted in several remarkable murals and exhibits, such as the ones covering the façades of the Tipel factory in Parets del Vallès and a hotel establishment in Magalluf, Mallorca.
Evolution and Recognition
By the early 1980s, Arranz-Bravo had moved towards new figuration and pop art. He held his first individual exhibition in 1981 and presented his series Abraçades (Embraces) at the Miguel Marcos gallery in Zaragoza a year later. Throughout the 1980s, he contributed as an artistic director to films and created a series of lithographs called La casa. His career spanned various exhibitions in cities like Madrid, Amsterdam, Paris, and Rio de Janeiro. A career highlight was a retrospective at the Imperial Palace of Rio de Janeiro in 1992, where he was in the illustrious company of artists like Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró.
International Reach
In 1998, Arranz-Bravo started an intensive collaboration with Franklin Bowles Galleries in New York. Over the years, his work was showcased globally, including exhibitions in Barcelona, Rome, San Francisco, and even his first exhibition in China in 2014. His works have also been a part of prestigious museums like the Museum of Modern Art in São Paulo, Reina Sofia National Art Center Museum in Madrid, and the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art.
Legacy and Awards
Throughout his life, Arranz-Bravo received numerous awards, such as the Second Bienal Internacional del Deporte, Figure award in the Biennial Estrada Saladich, and the Inglada-Guillot award for Drawing. His works find a place in both private and public collections, including his namesake Arranz-Bravo Foundation, which holds a significant number of his works.
Public Artworks
Arranz-Bravo has left a lasting imprint in public spaces as well. His murals adorn districts like Barcelona’s Raval district and Parets del Vallès, and his sculptures grace places in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat. Notably, he designed the hull art for Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore ship in autumn 2019.
Passing and Immortal Legacy
Arranz-Bravo passed away at the age of 82 on 20 October 2023, in his studio in Vallvidrera. However, his extensive contributions to the art world, spanning over multiple decades, ensure that his legacy endures. His work continues to be relevant, reflecting modern-day concerns, and his techniques and forms have carved a niche for themselves in the sphere of visual art.
As of 2022, the Arranz-Bravo Foundation in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat holds 340 of his works, which include canvas paintings, drawings, and sculptures. This wide array of his creations signifies the scope and depth of Arranz-Bravo’s contributions to the world of art, making him a luminary who will not be easily forgotten.
In the words of an art critic, the sum of Arranz-Bravo’s work can be seen as a vivid tapestry that offers a complex yet accessible glimpse into the human condition, making his work a significant part of the canon of contemporary art.
