FRENCH ARTIST Manuel Martinez
Manuel Martinéz was born in 1956 in a small Andalusian village in the south of Spain. In the 1960’s he went to France and as an eighteen year old, for the first time, he presented his works of art at an exhibition in Pamiers, where he was awarded the Prize of the town for his work.
He studied fine arts at the École des Beaux Arts in Toulouse. In the port of Collioure, where he was gaining money as a street portraits draftsman, he was noticed by local artists. For a certain time, he was professionally and personally growing up among them and he got to develop not only his practical painting skills, but he also deepened his knowledge of history of art. For several years he worked as an illustrator and graphic designer. Since 1999 he has worked together with the French Contemporary Art Gallery Biarritz. Since 2000, he has been exhibiting worldwide, his works are getting into the collections of many domestic and foreign art collectors, who recognized the uniqueness and quality of his paintings. He lives and works in the “village of artists” Carla-Bayle.
In Martinéz´s work you can feel the captivation by the great artists. He was inspired by Fernand Léger, Joan Miró, Pablo Picasso and Wassily Kandinsky. The author refers to them in an original way and develops their bequest in a contemporary painter´s expression and in his peculiar, unique style. His palette is based on elementary colours and his expression is close to cubism and surrealism. Many of the themes of his artworks are symbolic. In his works, in addition to nude and portrait, we can find mythological motives or the traditional attribute of Spain, the bull.
Martinez´s paintings emanate life and energy of his native country, but also the elegance and charm of France. These attributes Martinéz combines in a unique style that he has created and so he attracts the attention of laymen and professionals worldwide. A particularly good response to the artist’s work can be found in Germany, France, Switzerland, and he is well appreciated in surrounding countries where he has enchanted the collectors of modern art that his paintings are not sold in galleries or auction houses because they are sold directly in his studio.
Exhibitions & Collections
- 2001 Exposition collective – Château de Barbirey sur Ouche (Bourgogne)
- 2001 Exposition collective – Château de Barbirey sur Ouche (Bourgogne)
- 2002 Exposition collective (Sao Paulo – Brésil)
- 2004 2ème Biennale de sculpture de Montbron (Charente)
- 2004 La Halle aux Arts (Touvre-Charente)
- 2005 Biennale “Arts Atlantic” s/avec la galerie Ginou Larrouilh (La Rochelle)
- 2006 Biennale “Tryptique” s/avec la galerie Ginou Larrouilh (Angers)
- 2007 Ville de Madrid s/avec la galerie Ginou Larrouilh
- 2007 Galerie “Clos de la Madeleine” (St Emililion)
- 2008 Galerie “salle Expalioux” (Les Mille tiroirs – Pamiers)
- 2008 “La Méditerranée” de Portet/Garonne
- 2009 Espace d’art de Craishlem (Allemagne)
- 2009 “Rue des Arts” Carla Bayle
- 2009 Le CHIVA Varilhes
- 2009 “Galerie le grenier aux artistes” Rocquecor
- 2010 “Contemporanéos” Barbastro (Espagne)
- 2010 ” Rue des Arts” Carla Bayle
- 2011 Galerie de l’Echarpe (Toulouse)
- 2011 Salon des arts actuels – Hommage à Volti (C. Bayle)
- 2011 “Rue des Arts” Carla Bayle
- 2011 “L’art se mêle” Vic d’oust – Baroque et contemporrain
- 2012 “Artisti & Co” Bratislava-Slovaquie
- 2012 “Rencontres d’art” Musée Ingres-Montauban
- 2012 “Rue des Arts” Carla Bayle
- 2012 Pyla sur Mer (Arcachon)
- 2012 “Créateurs d’aujourd’hui” VALBONNE (avec la Galerie Gabel)
- 2012 Galerie Gabel (Biot – Alpes Maritimes)
- 2012 Espace d’art contemporain Les Carmes (Pamiers)
- 2013 “Artisti & Co” Prague-République Tchèque
- 2013 “Rue des Arts – Contresens” Carla Bayle
- 2013 Galerie Caroline Tresca – Paris 6°
- 2014 “Artistes du Monde”– MONACO
- 2014 Galerie 30 – LE CANNET
- 2014 “Rue des Arts” Carla Bayle
- 2014 Invité d’honneur – Salon de Ste-Croix-Volvestre
- 2014 Musée Aristide Bergès – Lorp Senteraille
- 2014 “Les oiseaux…ils arrivent” – Les milles Tiroirs – Pamiers
- 2014 “Artistes du Monde” Croisette de CANNES – Prix de la Ville de Vallauris
- 2014 Galerie Art Espace – Aéroport Toulouse Blagnac 237
- 2014 “Artisti & Co” Vienne (Autriche)
- 2015 Galerie UMELKA – avec Artisti & Co – Bratislava (Slovaquie)
- 2016 Galerie ADM – Mandoulieu La Napoule (France)
- 2016 SWINTON Gallery – Road to Mukono – Madrid (Espagne)
- 2016 Espace Culturel “Le Coucaril” – Carla-Bayle (France)
- 2016 Galerie Anagama – Trilogie – Versailles (France)
- 2017 Galerie Bleu Réglisse – Auvillar (France)
- 2017 Galerie GAAB – Biarritz (France)
- 2017 Bleeker Gallery – New York (USA)
- 2017 Espace République – Valence D’Agen (France)