Antoni Tàpies

Antoni Tàpies is a Spanish Catalan painter. He is one of the famous artists of European abstract expressionism. After studying law for 3 years, he devoted himself from 1943 onwards only to his painting. In 1950 he held his first solo exhibition, at Galeries Laietanes, Barcelona. In the early 50s he lived in Paris, to where he has often returned. From the late 50s to early 60s, Tàpies worked with Enrique Tábara, Antonio Saura, Manolo Millares and many other Spanish Informalist artists. From about 1970 (influenced by Pop art) he began incorporating more substantial objects into his paintings, such as parts of furniture. Tàpies's ideas have had worldwide influence on art, especially in the realms of painting, sculpture, etchings and lithography.