Félix Arauz

Félix Arauz (born 1935, Guayaquil, Ecuador) is a very important Latin American painter from Ecuador. 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 strong and designed to leave a 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 personal 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 scholorship to travel to the United States with the fellow master painter Gilberto Almeida (a member of VAN, the artist group founded by Enrique Tábara) and Jaime Villa in order to study galleries and museums throughout New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Miami.

In 1970, arranged 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 considered notable. In 1971, Arauz obtained The Great Prize of Hall Julio in Guayaquil.

In 1987, Arauz travelled to Basel, Switzerland to exhibit with his friend Eloísa Melo. From there, Arauz traveled to Brussels and exhibitied with Víctor Mideros. Finally, Arauz met up with longtime friend and colleague 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.

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.

References

* Municipalidad de Guayaquil - www.guayaquil.gov.ec/data/salondejulio/antecedentes.htm

* Ecuadorian Art, Salvat, Volume IV.
* http://www.artecuatoriano.com/paginas/pintur11.htm