Félix Arauz
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Félix Arauz (born 1935, Guayaquil, Ecuador) is one of the most important painters to come out of Ecuador in the last fifty years. Arauz is among the art circles of Enrique Tábara, Aníbal Villacís, Jose Carreño and Juan Villafuerte. In 1957, Arauz began studying under Caesar Andrade Faini at the School of Fine Arts. During his second year his father died leaving Arauz feeling nostalgic and isolated. Arauz funneled his emotions into his work creating some of the most beautiful, heartfelt and dreamlike imagery to date. Both his use of color and his compositions are simply brilliant and leave a huge lasting impression on the viewer. Arauz's subjects usually include, surreal flower arrangements, the innocence of children, faces, trees of life, landscapes and abstracts all of which are created with a unique dreamlike aesthetic.
In 1967, Arauz married Nila Villafuerte Estrada, older sister of Juan Villafuerte. Arauz, Juan Villafuerte and Jose Carreño had a very close friendship forged at the School of Fine Arts. In the same year, Arauz received a government schlorship to travel to the United States with fellow master painter Gilberto Almeida (a member of VAN, the artist group founded by Enrique Tábara) and Jaime Villa to study galleries and museums throughout New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Miami.
In 1970, through his friend, Jaime Andrade, Arauz exhibited two paintings at the Pan American Union in Washington, D.C. and at Gallery Kromex in New York. Both exhibits were a great success. In 1971, Arauz obtained The Great Prize of Hall Julio in Guayaquil.
In 1987, Arauz traveled to Basel, Switzerland and exhibited with his friend Eloísa Melo. From there, Arauz traveled to Brussels and exhibitied with friend Víctor Mideros. Finally, Arauz met up with longtime friend and collegue Jose Carreño in Paris.
Arauz has been a professor at the School of Fine Arts since 1966 and continues to paint in his studio in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
[edit] Awards and medals
1962, 1965 & 1969 Second Prize, National Hall October, Guayaquil, Ecuador
1963 & 1972 First Prize National Hall October, Guayaquil, Ecuador
1968 Great prize, Gold Medal National Hall Julio, Guayaquil, Ecuador
1971 Great Prize Hall Julio, Guayaquil, Ecuador
1972 First Prize, National Hall October, Guayaquil, Ecuador
1975 Second Prize, National Hall Julio, Guayaquil, Ecuador
1981 Gold Medal of Artistic Merit, granted by the illustrious Municipality of Guayaquil.
1996 Gold Brush Cultural Association the Pains.
[edit] References
- Municipalidad de Guayaquil - www.guayaquil.gov.ec/data/salondejulio/antecedentes.htm
- Ecuadorian Art, Salvat, Volume IV.
