Juan García Ripollés (1932) - Print, the violinist

Biography information: Title: The Violinist Technique: screen printing numbered LVIII/C Dimension: 27 x 21. 5. Juan García Ripollés, signed as Ripollés, although he is informally known as Ripo. Sculptor, engraver and painter. Married (with Rosa) and with three children (Paloma, Yerma and Natalio) . He was born on September 4, 1932 in Alzira (Valencia) . His mother died in childbirth and at the age of 11 went to Castellón with an adoptive family, so according to his own statements he considers himself as born in Castellón and this fact is in some biographies. In his early years he worked in various jobs, including as a large-scale and industrial painter. He began his artistic studies at the Francisco Ribalta School of Arts and Crafts in Castellón. In 1954 he moved to Paris where he continued to work as a wall painter, when in 1958 the Drouand David gallery discovered his artistic side and then began his career as a graphic artist until he was known internationally. In 1963 he returned to Spain and settled in Seville, finally arriving in 1972 in his hometown of Castellón, after having lived in different parts of our geography. In 2010 he moved to his current residence in "Mas de Flors". Best known in Spain for his sculptural work, he has works on several continents and in the main cities of the world. He works with ceramics, fibreglass, Murano glass, resin, iron and bronze for larger sculptures. In the painting he uses "gouache", China paint, acrylics, etc. His residence in "Mas de Flors" is very close to Castellón, where he is dedicated to the land harvest and domestic animals, during periods when he does not work or travel. A person already free of many pre conceptions, is known to always wear a cap with two antennas on his head that make him unmistakable wherever he goes. He also usually uses a sprig of rosemary between his lips. In the city of Valencia, we have only one of his catalogued works, the Homage to the Book at the roundabout of Rua Eduardo Boscá next to Puente del Ángel Custodio. Awards and recognitions: • Valencian Community Arts Award (2000) ; • Adopted son of the city of Castellón; • Alzira City Gold Badge (2005) ; • He has a street dedicated to his name in his hometown of Alzira.