Fabio Hurtado
Schilders
Fabio Hurtado was born in Madrid in 1960, The son of an Italian mother and Spanish father, he spent his childhood in both Italy and Spain. His passion for painting began at a very early age. Day after day his graffiti and drawings literally invaded the family home – on walls, doors, even furniture. Hurtado went on to study in the Liceo Italiano of Madrid for thirteen years where he formed a musical group together with his schoolmates and a further passion for music developed..
In 1982, two years after his admission to The Fine Arts Faculty of Madrid University, Hurtado left home and rented his first studio in Madrid. Three years later he began to participate in municipal exhibitions and also art contests receiving numerous awards. Simultaneously he worked as a teacher in several art schools providing financial stability to indulge in his passion for the arts including photography and cinema, one of his main sources of inspiration.
In 1988 Hurtado dedicated himself entirely to painting with a solo exhibition in Duisburg, Germany. The theme of this exhibition was the world of jazz and was a great success and provided the encouragement he needed to become a full time painter. From that moment on his presence in International art circles has been constant, participating in solo and collective exhibitions in Madrid, London, New York, Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles and Geneva.
Until 1994 his compositions were marked by a surreal atmosphere in his interiors and geometric application in his figures, somewhat similar to Brancusian sculptures. From then on Hurtado placed figures in exteriors, resulting in a more real and humanistic approach. From 1996 his international recognition grew and he was appointed membership in the Academic Senate by the Rome Academy of Modern Art. The prestigious financial Times Telecom magazine dedicated a cover page to one of his paintings and Queen Sophia of Spain presented him with a medal of Honour at the Premio BMW painting Awards.
After 1998 a very successful show in New York opened the doors for him to the U.S. market. Since then, he has worked simultaneously with American and European galleries and his works are constant demand. His international reputation has continued to grow and he has participated in live television interviews and documentaries about his work. Hurtado was recently to exhibit in an exhibition celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Spanish Postal constitution together with some of Spain’s most important artists. This year the Spanish postal services issued a stamp collection featuring six of his paintings celebrating the role of women and literacy throughout history.
Fabio Hurtado is an artist with an unmistakeable style. His paintings recreate scenes in an almost cinematographic context which are set within the 1920’s, 1930’s and 1940’s. His exquisite drawings skills and harmonious use of colour are complementary to the overall sense of mystery surrounding his stylish and elegant characters and the roles they play in his paintings. There is an implied interaction between the spectator, the paintings and the artist who encourages the viewer to use their imagination in unravelling and participating in the narrative of the work.
Hurtado’s painting is serious and produced in a conscientious manner. It is both subtle and intelligent, where imagination and technique are in harmony resulting in a poignant statement of the timeless unchanging realities of the human condition.
In 1982, two years after his admission to The Fine Arts Faculty of Madrid University, Hurtado left home and rented his first studio in Madrid. Three years later he began to participate in municipal exhibitions and also art contests receiving numerous awards. Simultaneously he worked as a teacher in several art schools providing financial stability to indulge in his passion for the arts including photography and cinema, one of his main sources of inspiration.
In 1988 Hurtado dedicated himself entirely to painting with a solo exhibition in Duisburg, Germany. The theme of this exhibition was the world of jazz and was a great success and provided the encouragement he needed to become a full time painter. From that moment on his presence in International art circles has been constant, participating in solo and collective exhibitions in Madrid, London, New York, Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles and Geneva.
Until 1994 his compositions were marked by a surreal atmosphere in his interiors and geometric application in his figures, somewhat similar to Brancusian sculptures. From then on Hurtado placed figures in exteriors, resulting in a more real and humanistic approach. From 1996 his international recognition grew and he was appointed membership in the Academic Senate by the Rome Academy of Modern Art. The prestigious financial Times Telecom magazine dedicated a cover page to one of his paintings and Queen Sophia of Spain presented him with a medal of Honour at the Premio BMW painting Awards.
After 1998 a very successful show in New York opened the doors for him to the U.S. market. Since then, he has worked simultaneously with American and European galleries and his works are constant demand. His international reputation has continued to grow and he has participated in live television interviews and documentaries about his work. Hurtado was recently to exhibit in an exhibition celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Spanish Postal constitution together with some of Spain’s most important artists. This year the Spanish postal services issued a stamp collection featuring six of his paintings celebrating the role of women and literacy throughout history.
Fabio Hurtado is an artist with an unmistakeable style. His paintings recreate scenes in an almost cinematographic context which are set within the 1920’s, 1930’s and 1940’s. His exquisite drawings skills and harmonious use of colour are complementary to the overall sense of mystery surrounding his stylish and elegant characters and the roles they play in his paintings. There is an implied interaction between the spectator, the paintings and the artist who encourages the viewer to use their imagination in unravelling and participating in the narrative of the work.
Hurtado’s painting is serious and produced in a conscientious manner. It is both subtle and intelligent, where imagination and technique are in harmony resulting in a poignant statement of the timeless unchanging realities of the human condition.
