Prelude for an Irish Symphony
22 March – 5 April 2011
Spanish born artist Felix Anaut is now based in South West France, though also spends a lot time in Ireland. In recent years he has had considerable success and recognition, been embraced warmly by the European Art Scene, exhibiting widely in both public and private sectors, notably in France, Spain, England, Italy and Ireland, as well as other European countries.
Winter 2003 he was invited to participate in the Florence Biennale, where he won the award ‘Lorenzo el Magnifico of the city of Florence’ for his artistic career, in front of some 890 artists from around the world. In 2005, he participated in the Biennale de Basse Navarre, and was invited to exhibit work permanently in a new Contemporary Art Museum in Casoria, Naples. Works by him are also in the collections of various other museums, art institutions and other public spaces. Last year, 2006, he was listed in the Spanish national newspaper, ‘El Mundo’ in their supplement of the ‘500 most influential Spanish people, 2006’, under the Arts section, alongside seven other artists, including such names as Tapies.
He started his academic studies with classes at the ‘Circulo de Bellas Artes’ in Madrid, finishing studying at the ‘Ecole de Montparnasse d’Art et Dessin’ in Paris in 1978–79. After Paris he returned to Madrid to continue painting, followed by spending time living in Tangier and Ibiza (1982–83). During this period he developed his interest in abstract painting, largely inspired from arabic calligraphy.
In 1983, after studying a course on the history of porcelain at Christie’s in London, he decided to stay in England and continue painting, ending up settling in Belfast, where he co-founded a contemporary art gallery. During the seven year duration of the gallery, Anaut dedicated less time to his personal work, due to his obligations with the gallery, however continued to paint and exhibit sporadically.
In 1989–90 he returned to Spain and to painting full-time, returning to Ireland regularly. From these dates onwards he has been dedicated to the development of his work, returning to a strong investigation of figurative painting. In 2001 Anaut moved his base from Spain to South West France, where he continues working, reflecting back in some of his new work to his past abstract painting, and keeping in line also his powerful figurative work.
He has had numerous public interviews on television and radio about his work and career, and wide press coverage in magazines, newspapers, etc, throughout his career.
Some of his more notable exhibitions have included ‘Los Artistas’, an exhibition where Anaut showed alongside 3 of his greatest heroes in the history of modern art, Picasso, Miro and Bacon, sponsored by Arttank in Belfast, Ireland. Also, his solo show in the Museum of Isaba, in Navarra, Spain and a Retrospective at the Galerie des Tanneries in Nerac, France.
In 2005 he exhibited work in a new contemporary art museum in Casoria, Naples, Italy, which remains in the permanent collection. He also had a solo show at the Museum Albert Marzelles, Marmande in France, who have purchased work for their permanent collection.
In 2006 he had a huge solo exhibition under the title of ‘Bacchanal — Art or Decadence’ at the Raymond Farbos Contemporary Art Centre, Mont de Marsan. He also participated in the Belfast Arts Festival, with an exhibition under the title ‘No Hay Camino, Se Hace Camino Al Andar’ (‘There are no paths, one makes a path by walking’, Antonio Machado, 1875-1939).
Over the last couple of years he has continued to exhibit in Europe and New York, in festivals and galleries. During 2010 he will be showing in France, England, Ireland, and Spain (details on the News page).
Felix has also been developing his work with ceramics, painting very large scale one off pieces. He now has a studio in Spain for this, collaborating with ‘Ceramicas Abio’ in Huesca. Some of the ceramics projects have also been pursued in Ireland, his dinner services, all completely hand painted.
Also during 2010 a book is being published, ‘Felix Anaut, his life & work’, written by the art collector Michael Simonow, whose art collection is on permanent loan to the ‘Abbaye Flaran’ in S. W. France, this will add to one of several books that Simonow has written about artists in his collection. The book will cover all of Felix’s life, and through illustrations give a wide representation of his work.
Download the exhibition catalogue