Eduardo ARROYO (b. Madrid 1937. d. Madrid 2018)
La Boheme II, 1972
Colored pencil on paper
19 x 14 in. / 48.3 x 35.6 cm.
25 ½ x 20 ½ in (framed)
Titled, signed and dated in pencil
Eduardo Arroyo’s connection to the Venice Biennale is a defining moment in 20th-century Spanish art. In 1974, the Spanish painter and graphic artist served on the Biennale jury. Two years later, in 1976, his provocative, European Narrative paintings headlined the major post-Franco Spanish exhibition in Venice, solidifying his international reputation. Arroyo, known for his critical, figurative Pop Art and political subversion, originally went into self-imposed exile in Paris in 1957 to escape the Franco regime. His return to prominence via the Venice Biennale in 1976 represented a major cultural shift for contemporary Spanish artists breaking out of isolation.
In 2024, Eduardo Arroyo was celebrated with a major retrospective at the Fundación Bancaja in Valencia. This exhibition showcased his signature iconoclastic style, highlighting his satirical, narrative, and politically charged artwork.
