Albert Ràfols-Casamada facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Albert Ràfols-Casamada
"Les quatre estacions" (The Four Seasons, 1982), paintings on the ceiling of the Tourist Information Office in Barcelona City Hall (Plaça Sant Jaume) by Albert Ràfols-Casamada.
Born	(1923-02-02)2 February 1923 Barcelona
Died	17 December 2009(2009-12-17) (aged 86) Barcelona
Nationality	Spanish
Known for	Painting, poetry

Albert Ràfols-Casamada (born February 2, 1923 – died December 17, 2009) was a famous Spanish painter, poet, and art teacher. He was known for being a very important and talented artist from Catalonia, a region in Spain.

His early paintings were more realistic, showing things as they looked. But soon, he started creating his own unique abstract art style. This means his art used shapes, colors, and lines to show feelings or ideas, rather than exact pictures. He often found inspiration in everyday life.

About Albert Ràfols-Casamada

Albert Ràfols-Casamada was born in 1923 in Gràcia, a neighborhood in Barcelona. His father, Albert Ràfols i Cullerés, was also a painter. His mother was Josefina Casamada i Oliver.

Albert first studied architecture at the University of Barcelona from 1942 to 1944. But by 1948, he decided to become a professional painter instead. He had found his true passion.

His Art Journey

Albert started showing his artwork in 1946 in Barcelona. He was part of a group called Els Vuit ("The Eight"). This group included other artists, a poet, a sculptor, and a musician. Just one year later, he had his very first solo art show.

In 1950, he received a special scholarship from the French government. This allowed him to study art in Paris, France. He went with his future wife, Maria Girona, who was also a painter. Other famous Catalan artists like Josep Guinovart and Antoni Tàpies also studied there. Albert spent almost four years in Paris before returning to Catalonia.

He showed his art all over the world, in Europe, North America, and South America. In 2001, a special show of his work was held at the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art. He also received a tribute at the National Museum of Catalan Art in 2009.

Poetry and Teaching

Albert started writing poetry in 1939, even while he was painting. He began publishing his poems in 1972. One of his well-known poetry books, Signe d'aire, came out in 1976. He continued to publish poetry until 2004.

In 1952, he married Maria Girona Benet. He had met her in 1945 at an art school in Barcelona. In 1967, Albert, Maria, and other thinkers started an art and design school in Barcelona called EINA. This school was inspired by the famous Bauhaus art school. Albert was the director of EINA for 17 years. He also taught art there and in other places.

In 2015, Albert Ràfols-Casamada's family gave his personal collection to the Library of Catalonia. This collection includes his drawings, writings, and printed materials.

His Artworks

Albert Ràfols-Casamada's art is displayed in many museums around the world. Some of these famous museums include:

• The Guggenheim Museum in New York
• The Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris
• The British Museum in London
• The Mie Prefectural Art Museum in Japan
• The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Madrid
• The Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA)

Works at MACBA

Here are some of his artworks that you can find at the MACBA:

• Interior amb figura, an oil painting from 1951.
• Blau profund (Deep Blue), an oil painting from 1959.
• Pintura, a painting on linen canvas from 1960.
• Estampa popular. PIM PAM PUM, a woodcut print from 1965.
• Construcció, a piece made with paint on wood and cardboard from 1966.
• Pintura 2 (Homenatge a Joan Miró) (Painting 2 (Homage to Joan Miró)), a mixed media artwork from 1971.
• Vuit vents de Cadaqués (Eight Winds of Cadaqués), an etching from 1977.
• Sota l'enramada (migdia) (Under the Arbor (Noon)), a vinyl paint and charcoal artwork from 1982.
• Jardí d'agost (August Garden), an acrylic painting from 1982.
• La Catedral (The Cathedral), a vinyl paint and charcoal artwork from 1982.
• Interiors 5, Interiors 6, and Interiors 9, all lithographs from 1982.
• Rosa sostingut (Sustained Pink), an acrylic and charcoal artwork from 1983.
• Entre les fulles (Among the Leaves), an acrylic painting from 1984.
• Abril 1 and Abril 3, both etchings from 1985.
• Barcelona Triangle, an acrylic painting from 1987.
• Crepuscular (Twilight), an acrylic painting from 1988.
• Dins el roig (Inside the Red), an acrylic painting from 1989.
• Banda groga (Yellow Band), an acrylic painting from 1990.
• Sageta (Arrow), an acrylic painting from 1990.
• Sense títol. Carpeta XXV Artistes Catalans, Sevilla 92 (Untitled. Folder XXV Catalan Artists, Seville 92), a lithograph from 1992.
• Untitled engraving from 1996.
• Tensió (Tension), an acrylic painting, undated.
• Ganivet i forquilla (Knife and Fork), an oil painting, undated.

Albert Ràfols-Casamada also created large murals in public places. For example, he painted "Les quatre estacions" (The Four Seasons) on the ceiling of the Tourist Information Office in Barcelona City Hall in 1982. He also made two murals for the Palau Sant Jordi sports building in 1992.

He also designed beautiful stained glass windows. You can see his work in the Virgen del Camino Sanctuary in León (1959).

Awards and Honors

Albert Ràfols-Casamada received many important awards for his art, culture, and teaching:

• 1978 – Medal from the Catalan Art & Design Association.
• 1980 – Spanish National Award for Plastic Arts. This is a very high honor for artists in Spain.
• 1983 – Catalan Cross of Saint George. This is one of the highest awards given by the government of Catalonia.
• 1985 – French title of Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters.
• 1991 – French title of Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters.
• 2003 – Catalan National Award for the Visual Arts.
• 2008 – Gold Medal for Artistic Merit from the Barcelona City Council.
• 2009 – A special tribute at the National Museum of Catalan Art (MNAC).

See also

In Spanish: Albert Ràfols-Casamada para niños