Miquel Barceló facts for kids
Miquel Barceló Artigues (born in 1957) is a famous Spanish painter. He is known for his unique art style and large-scale projects.
Contents
Becoming an Artist
Miquel Barceló was born in Felanitx, Mallorca, Spain. He started studying art at the Arts and Crafts School in Palma. Later, in 1974, he briefly attended the Fine Arts School of Barcelona.
After his studies, Barceló returned to Mallorca. There, he joined a group called "Taller Llunàtic." This group created art that was new and experimental. He also helped make their art magazine, Neon de Suro.
Early Influences
Barceló had his first art show in Palma. Early on, he was inspired by different art styles. These included Avant-garde art and American abstract art. Famous painters like Jackson Pollock influenced him.
He also admired older artists. These included Diego Velázquez, Tintoretto, and Rembrandt. Another artist, Jean Dubuffet, encouraged Barceló to try new things in his art.
Traveling and Creating
Throughout the 1980s, Barceló traveled a lot. He visited places in Europe, the United States, and West Africa. Paris became like a second home to him. His travels, especially his time in West Africa, greatly inspired his artwork.
In 1982, he showed his art at "Documenta 7" in Germany. This event helped him become known around the world.
In 1983, Barceló lived in Naples, Italy, for five months. There, he made art using volcanic ash. He also created a painting called L'ombra che trema (The Trembling Shadow). He said this painting was a self-portrait of him in the act of painting.
In 1986, Spain gave him the National Award for Plastic Arts. This was a big honor for his artistic achievements.
Major Art Projects
Miquel Barceló has worked on many impressive art projects. These show his talent in different ways.
Dante's Divine Comedy
In 2004, Barceló's drawings for Dante's famous book, Divine Comedy, were shown. They were displayed at the Louvre Museum in Paris. This was a special event, as it's rare for a living artist to have their work shown there.
Palma Cathedral Chapel
Barceló also worked on the Chapel of Sant Pere in Palma Cathedral. He covered the entire chapel with terracotta, a type of clay. He decorated it with images from the Bible. These images showed the miracle of Jesus multiplying bread and fish.
Stage Designs
Barceló has also designed for the stage. In 1990, he created costumes and sets for an opera in Paris. Later, in 2006, he worked with a choreographer for a performance in France.
United Nations Dome
One of his most famous works is in the United Nations Palace of Nations in Geneva. In 2008, he finished a huge art piece on the ceiling of a special room. This room is called the Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Chamber.
The artwork is a massive dome that looks like colorful stalactites. These are rock formations that hang from cave ceilings. Barceló used 100 tons of paint for this amazing project. It covers a huge area of 1500 square meters.
Teaching and Recognition
In 2010, Barceló was invited to teach at an architecture school in France. This shows how much his art is respected.
Today, his art is shown in galleries around the world. In 2017, he became a vice-president of CISAC. This is an international group for artists and writers. Also in 2017, the University of Salamanca gave him an honorary degree.
Exhibitions
- 2011: Les Rencontres d'Arles Festival, France.
See also
In Spanish: Miquel Barceló para niños
