Joan Claret

Barcelona, 1929 – 2014

Joan Claret i Corominas was one of the most distinctive painters of the post-war generation in Catalonia. Although he trained in a context dominated by Informalism, he stood out for his commitment to a constructivist and analytical form of painting, becoming one of the leading exponents of the genre. He graduated in Philosophy and Letters from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, and in 1957 he spent a short period in Paris, an experience that marked his evolution towards a refined and structured style of painting. He exhibited frequently at the Sala Gaspar in Barcelona, where he received critical acclaim, and took part in important group exhibitions such as 0 Figura and MAN, as well as international exhibitions in Brazil, the United States, England and Sweden. In 1963 he was awarded the drawing prize named after Joan Miró. His most accomplished artistic period spans from 1959 to 1966, when his work gained international exposure through travelling exhibitions in the United States. During the 1980s and 1990s, Claret consolidated his artistic language, remaining faithful to his pursuit of balance and harmony.