Jesús Carles de Vilallonga

Infobox Artist


bgcolour =
name = Jesús Carles de Vilallonga
imagesize =
caption =
birthname =
birthdate = 1927
location = Girona, Catalunya, Spain
deathdate =
deathplace =
nationality = Catalonian,Canadian
field = painting, sculpture
training =
movement = Surrealism
works =
patrons =
influenced by =
influenced =
awards =

Jesús Carles de Vilallonga (1927- ) is a Catalan, largely figurative, surrealist painter, sculptor, printmaker and designer. Born in Girona (Catalunya), Spain, he has witnessed first-hand (and reflected in his work) the political and historical changes of the early twentieth through the twenty-first century as well as the artistic and cultural developments which have accompanied them.

Vilallonga is considered the modern equivalent of a Renaissance painter. He works in egg tempera, one of his preferred techniques today, which follows the tradition of Italian masters of the Quattrocento. His painting contains references to symbolism and surrealism, but his technique and aesthetic vision evolved into a uniquely personal style, consisting of luminous, richly and intricately textured layers of paint that create a profound sense of depth.

Throughout his varied artistic career, Vilallonga has produced works in fresco, oil painting, egg tempera, acrylic, gouache, collage and mixed media.

A prolific printmaker, his extensive body of graphic work includes etching, lithography, screenprinting and digital art.

Vilallonga also works in bronze and aluminum sculpture. Among his creations in the area of design are freeform lamps, ceramic plates, bronze and silver jewelry and textiles.

Vilallonga studied art in Barcelona, Madrid, Paris and Rome. In 1958, he signed an exclusive contract with Dr. Max Stern, owner of the prestigious Dominion Gallery in Montréal, who was responsible for introducing such artists as Henry Moore, Marino Marini, Van Dongen and Picabia in Canada. Vilallonga’s contract with the gallery continued for thirty years, until the death of the gallery owner.

Vilallonga’s work has been presented in numerous one man shows around the world, including the Lefevre Gallery in London, the Sagittarius Gallery in New York, Galeria Juana Mordó in Madrid, Art Contemporain in Paris, Dau al Set in Barcelona, Galerie Debellefeuille in Montréal and an extensive retrospective at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza in California in 2000.

Vilallonga’s paintings are the subject of several books and documentaries and can be found in many major museums, corporations and important private collections.

After being based in Montréal, Canada for a number of years, Vilallonga returned to live in Spain where he continues to work actively in his studio in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter.

References

Thousand Oaks (City of). 2000. Vilallonga: poetic symbolism from Barcelona. First Ltd. edition. Produced by City of Thousand Oaks Theatres Department. City of Thousand Oaks, 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks, CA, USA. ISBN #0-9700887-0-1.

Text based on information from the now defunct www.vilallonga.com.