Juan Antonio Guirado
Encyclopedia
Juan Antonio Guirado 1932-2010, Jaen, Spain.
to study the Renaissance
artists, and then to Paris
where he studied at the Impressionist School.
His big break happened in 1956 when he was approached on the street in Madrid
for directions to a good restaurant. Instead of just giving directions, Juan lead them to the premier restaurant in the city and was invited to join them, resulting in him being hired as their driver for a business trip.
During the trip a friendship blossomed, and on return to Madrid the couple, after seeing Guirado’s work, were happy to pay 80 times what the painter had been receiving for his work at the time. Due to this relationship, in 1956 Guirado was invited to exhibit at the prestigious Soler Gallery at the Fontainbleau Hotel in Miami.
to ‘find himself as a painter’, first living in Boneigilla before working in the Port Kembla Steelworks, and then cutting cane in Queensland
. He eventually settled in Sydney
, renting a studio in Paddington
, painting all day then working at night cleaning factories and offices to earn money to buy materials for his art.
He felt a strong spiritual connection to the country, saying in one interview he felt more soul and spirituality there than in his homeland of Spain. His work in Spain had been traditional in the form of portraits and landscapes, but it was in Australia he evolved his distinct and personal style.
In 1967–1969 he held one man shows at prestigious galleries in Australia including the El Dorado Gallery, the Red Rose Gallery, the St Ives Gallery, and the Round House University of New South Wales
. He was also commissioned to paint reproductions of the Spanish masters as well as his own work for The Spanish Club on Liverpool Street in Sydney, where they still hang to this day. Whilst on a trip to London
in 1969 he sold a painting to British film director John Schlesinger
, who had just won an Oscar that year for his film Midnight cowboy
.
It was during his time in Australia that he met his muse and love of his life, Audrey Ballard. She began modeling for him to earn extra money, and ended up living with him and having their daughter Catalina Guirado
.
, a small village just outside Guirado’s place of birth, Jaen in Andalusia
.
In 1976 art agent Dame Francoise Tempra organized 10 major shows for him as well as having his work curated in permanent collections at the Kemptovic in Le Touquet, France; University of Buffalo, New York; Museum of Art and History, Geneva; Via Condomer, Venice; the British Museum, London; The Roundhouse Museum, Australia; The Spanish center, Australia; Musee d’art et d’histoire, Geneva; the Angers Museum, France; Trevizo civic museum, and the private collection of the late King Rey of Jordon. He won 1st prize at the prestigious International exposition, Venice, Italy in the same year.
Carlos Arean, director of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Madrid, described Juan as having his eye on the future, with acclaimed pieces, Apocolypse, and, Working Man’s Christ, amongst his favorite.
During the 80′s Guirado returned to Spain permanently and continued to paint and exhibit worldwide before settling in Mojaca, Almeria in 1995, where he was considered a revered artist and member of the community with a gallery built in his honor.
In 1995 artist and acclaimed Spanish art critique and historian, Manuel Quintanilla, wrote a book on Guirado’s life, philosophy and work, El Pintor Contemporaneo Andaluz, accompanied by an art exhibition of his work.
During the 90s and 2000s Guirado turned his back on the international art scene choosing to paint for himself and sell paintings to local townsfolk and tourists. He also acted as curator of a gallery built for his sole use in the small town of Garrucha
near Mojacar
. He became involved in the local political party, Mojacar 2000, and could be found playing flamenco guitar and singing with the local Spanish Gypsy community.
Juan Antonio Guirado died of lung cancer in July 2010, one month short of his 78th birthday. Catalina Guirado
is his only heir. The town council of Mojaca is creating a tribute to him with a museum honoring the man and his work.
1961: St. Ives Gallery, Sydney, Australia
1962: Red Rose Gallery, Sydney
1963: Studio 4 Gallery, Sydney
1965: Campbell Gallery, Sydney
1966: El Dorado Gallery, Sydney
1967: El Dorado Gallery, Sydney
1968: Douglas Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand.
1969: Round House University, N.S.W, Sydney * Danny Gallery, London
1970: Galería Fedelta, Roma * Sala Cultart, Madrid * The Craftasman´s Gallery, Sydney
1971: The Craftasman´s Gallery, Sydney
1972: Sebert Art Gallery, Sydney
1973: Clarissa Richards Gallery, Sydney
1974: Woollahara Gallery, Sydney
1975: Sixty One Gallery, London
1976: Logis de Lancreau, Angers, France * Centre d´art FranÇais, París * Palais de L´europe, Le touquet,
France * State University, Búfalo, U.S.A.* Exposición Internacional Grolla D´oro, Venice
(1º Premio:Medallade Oro) * Chicago International TradeExposition. In Celebration of America Bicentennial;
New York * Musee National Valleta, Malta * Calais Museo;, France * Sixty One Gallery, London
1978: Milán, Italy * Hotel Ramada, Geneva, Switzerland * Canning House, London
1979: Glasgow, Escocia * Canning House, London * Spanish House, London
1981: Canning House, London
1986: Hansaç Agolani, Oasis de Nazaret, Lanzarote
1988: “La Galeria”, Teguise, Lanzarote
1989: CajaSur, 125 Aniversario, Jaén Spain
2008: Balearic Islands expose
National fine Arts Museum, Malta
Civic Museum, Treviso, Italy
Angers Museum, France
Round House University, N.S.W. Australia
Spanish Center, Sidney, Australia
State of New York University Búfalo, USA
Quentovic Musseum, Le Touquet, France
Grolla d Óro Mogliano Veneto, Villa Condulmer, Venice, Italy
Musee d´Art et d´Histoire, Geneva, Switzerland
Residencia Rey Hussein, London, England
Museo Treviso, Venice, Italy
Spanish artist
In 1946, after a brief spell as a bull fighter, Guirado began work as an apprentice to mural painter Joaquin Segarra in Madrid, before traveling first to RomeRome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
to study the Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
artists, and then to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
where he studied at the Impressionist School.
Career
In 1955 he traveled to New York where he was commissioned to paint a series of important murals.His big break happened in 1956 when he was approached on the street in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
for directions to a good restaurant. Instead of just giving directions, Juan lead them to the premier restaurant in the city and was invited to join them, resulting in him being hired as their driver for a business trip.
During the trip a friendship blossomed, and on return to Madrid the couple, after seeing Guirado’s work, were happy to pay 80 times what the painter had been receiving for his work at the time. Due to this relationship, in 1956 Guirado was invited to exhibit at the prestigious Soler Gallery at the Fontainbleau Hotel in Miami.
In Australia
In 1959 he moved to AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
to ‘find himself as a painter’, first living in Boneigilla before working in the Port Kembla Steelworks, and then cutting cane in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. He eventually settled in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, renting a studio in Paddington
Paddington
Paddington is a district within the City of Westminster, in central London, England. Formerly a metropolitan borough, it was integrated with Westminster and Greater London in 1965...
, painting all day then working at night cleaning factories and offices to earn money to buy materials for his art.
He felt a strong spiritual connection to the country, saying in one interview he felt more soul and spirituality there than in his homeland of Spain. His work in Spain had been traditional in the form of portraits and landscapes, but it was in Australia he evolved his distinct and personal style.
In 1967–1969 he held one man shows at prestigious galleries in Australia including the El Dorado Gallery, the Red Rose Gallery, the St Ives Gallery, and the Round House University of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. He was also commissioned to paint reproductions of the Spanish masters as well as his own work for The Spanish Club on Liverpool Street in Sydney, where they still hang to this day. Whilst on a trip to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1969 he sold a painting to British film director John Schlesinger
John Schlesinger
John Richard Schlesinger, CBE was an English film and stage director and actor.-Early life:Schlesinger was born in London into a middle-class Jewish family, the son of Winifred Henrietta and Bernard Edward Schlesinger, a physician...
, who had just won an Oscar that year for his film Midnight cowboy
Midnight Cowboy
Midnight Cowboy is a 1969 American drama film based on the 1965 novel of the same name by James Leo Herlihy. It was written by Waldo Salt, directed by John Schlesinger, and stars Dustin Hoffman and newcomer Jon Voight in the title role. Notable smaller roles are filled by Sylvia Miles, John...
.
Exhibitions
In 1970, Guirado’s Madrid exhibition, originally scheduled for three weeks showing at the Cultart Galleries, was extended to six weeks by public demand. The exhibition was Guirado’s showcase to Spain, revealing his new style inspired by living in Australia. It received wide coverage in the magazines and on televÏision, with a documentary film about Guirado and his work made for cinema release.It was during his time in Australia that he met his muse and love of his life, Audrey Ballard. She began modeling for him to earn extra money, and ended up living with him and having their daughter Catalina Guirado
Catalina Guirado
Catalina Jane Guirado is an English model and TV personality. She has been a British lads' mag and tabloid favorite since the late '90s....
.
Return to Spain
The family returned to Spain separately, Guirado returning first, followed a year or two later by Audrey and Catalina. After a brief period in Madrid they settled in Los VillaresLos Villares
Los Villares is a city located in the province of Jaén, Spain. According to the 2005 census , the city has a population of 5289 inhabitants....
, a small village just outside Guirado’s place of birth, Jaen in Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
.
In 1976 art agent Dame Francoise Tempra organized 10 major shows for him as well as having his work curated in permanent collections at the Kemptovic in Le Touquet, France; University of Buffalo, New York; Museum of Art and History, Geneva; Via Condomer, Venice; the British Museum, London; The Roundhouse Museum, Australia; The Spanish center, Australia; Musee d’art et d’histoire, Geneva; the Angers Museum, France; Trevizo civic museum, and the private collection of the late King Rey of Jordon. He won 1st prize at the prestigious International exposition, Venice, Italy in the same year.
Themes
Guirado’s work includes a diversity of themes which are evocative. Some critics have referred to his work as '‘essentialist’' and all have agreed it is a very distinguishable and unique style that will not be mistaken for anyone else. His traditional Catholic upbringings have paid little part in the themes of his paintings with Guirado instead drawing inspiration from Eastern philosophy.Carlos Arean, director of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Madrid, described Juan as having his eye on the future, with acclaimed pieces, Apocolypse, and, Working Man’s Christ, amongst his favorite.
During the 80′s Guirado returned to Spain permanently and continued to paint and exhibit worldwide before settling in Mojaca, Almeria in 1995, where he was considered a revered artist and member of the community with a gallery built in his honor.
In 1995 artist and acclaimed Spanish art critique and historian, Manuel Quintanilla, wrote a book on Guirado’s life, philosophy and work, El Pintor Contemporaneo Andaluz, accompanied by an art exhibition of his work.
During the 90s and 2000s Guirado turned his back on the international art scene choosing to paint for himself and sell paintings to local townsfolk and tourists. He also acted as curator of a gallery built for his sole use in the small town of Garrucha
Garrucha
Garrucha is a municipality of Almería province, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Garrucha is a seaport of south-eastern Spain on the Mediterranean Sea and the right bank of the river Antas. , the town had a population of 5000...
near Mojacar
Mojácar
Mojácar is a municipality situated in the south east of the Province of Almería in southern Spain, bordering the Mediterranean Sea. It is 90 km from the capital of the province, Almería. It is an elevated mountain village displaying the traditional white color from its earlier days...
. He became involved in the local political party, Mojacar 2000, and could be found playing flamenco guitar and singing with the local Spanish Gypsy community.
Juan Antonio Guirado died of lung cancer in July 2010, one month short of his 78th birthday. Catalina Guirado
Catalina Guirado
Catalina Jane Guirado is an English model and TV personality. She has been a British lads' mag and tabloid favorite since the late '90s....
is his only heir. The town council of Mojaca is creating a tribute to him with a museum honoring the man and his work.
Exhibitions
1956: Soler Gallery, Hotel Fontain, de Miami, Florida1961: St. Ives Gallery, Sydney, Australia
1962: Red Rose Gallery, Sydney
1963: Studio 4 Gallery, Sydney
1965: Campbell Gallery, Sydney
1966: El Dorado Gallery, Sydney
1967: El Dorado Gallery, Sydney
1968: Douglas Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand.
1969: Round House University, N.S.W, Sydney * Danny Gallery, London
1970: Galería Fedelta, Roma * Sala Cultart, Madrid * The Craftasman´s Gallery, Sydney
1971: The Craftasman´s Gallery, Sydney
1972: Sebert Art Gallery, Sydney
1973: Clarissa Richards Gallery, Sydney
1974: Woollahara Gallery, Sydney
1975: Sixty One Gallery, London
1976: Logis de Lancreau, Angers, France * Centre d´art FranÇais, París * Palais de L´europe, Le touquet,
France * State University, Búfalo, U.S.A.* Exposición Internacional Grolla D´oro, Venice
(1º Premio:Medallade Oro) * Chicago International TradeExposition. In Celebration of America Bicentennial;
New York * Musee National Valleta, Malta * Calais Museo;, France * Sixty One Gallery, London
1978: Milán, Italy * Hotel Ramada, Geneva, Switzerland * Canning House, London
1979: Glasgow, Escocia * Canning House, London * Spanish House, London
1981: Canning House, London
1986: Hansaç Agolani, Oasis de Nazaret, Lanzarote
1988: “La Galeria”, Teguise, Lanzarote
1989: CajaSur, 125 Aniversario, Jaén Spain
2008: Balearic Islands expose
Museums and Institutions
Museo de Arte Contemporáneo, Madrid, SpainNational fine Arts Museum, Malta
Civic Museum, Treviso, Italy
Angers Museum, France
Round House University, N.S.W. Australia
Spanish Center, Sidney, Australia
State of New York University Búfalo, USA
Quentovic Musseum, Le Touquet, France
Grolla d Óro Mogliano Veneto, Villa Condulmer, Venice, Italy
Musee d´Art et d´Histoire, Geneva, Switzerland
Residencia Rey Hussein, London, England
Museo Treviso, Venice, Italy