Genre: Modern Subject: Abstract Medium: Oil Surface: Paper Country: Spain Dimensions w/Frame: 25 1/2 x 21 1/2 This original painting by Spanish artist Ramon Prats is moody and powerful. The colors are a mix of black, grays and reds ala Antoni Tapies and they evoke a masculine, deep energy. Ramon Prats, was born in Barcelona, Spain in 1928. At the age of 15, Prats was appointed the official artist and illustrator for the El País newspaper in Havana, Cuba where his family was residing at the time. He studied at The School of Visual Arts in Santo Domingo and The School of Graphic Arts in Havana, Cuba. Upon completing his studies in Cuba, Prats moved to New York to study at the Art Students League of New York. Word of the young, talented, Spanish artist quickly spread amongst the New York City art scene and soon reached the Associated American Artist Gallery of New York, which then commissioned Prats under a seven year exclusive contract. He regularly exhibited at the AAA gallery until 1955, and also showed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. In 1952, he assisted painter Jose Vela Zanetti in painting the mural, "Mankind's Struggle for Lasting Peace," which is still in the lobby of the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Prats moved to Mexico in 1956 and was pivotal in spearheading the development of modern art there until his death at age 74. There are currently two examples of Prats' work in the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian museum's collection: Textile, Mosaic, 1954 (1994-38-3) and Sidewall, Terrazzo, 1953 (1954-21-6). Prats moved to Mexico in 1956 and was a pivotal figure amongst the artist responsible for spearheading the development of Modern Art in Mexico. EXHIBITIONS(selected) Orfeo Catalan New York Presented by the famous artist Bartoli. Associated American Artists. New York, USA Art-Garden City Park Mexico Four Rooms Gallery Casino de la Selva Museum of Modern Art in New York Collective Latin American prints 1976 INBA Morelos Foreign Friends of Acapulco Guerrero Cortes Palace in Cuernavaca, Mor GalleryExcelsior AD Mexico Studio OneNew Orleans New Orleans Byways Gallery Summa Artis City Mexico Liberty Galleries New Orleans Tasende Guerrero Gallery / California Art Original Cuernavaca, MOR The Senate of the Republic "Visual Arts Collective 1984" Mexico City Cuernavaca Hermes ASSOCIATED ARTISTS / Acapulco Art Auction: Rotary Club and Foundation Morelos Cultural Center Benefit and Sciences in the "Old train station Cuernavaca" Art Auction: Michou y Mau FoundationMexico Gallery Quadro Torreon, Coahuila Bleu Gallery Puebla Mexican Society of AuthorsFine Arts GenesisWorks Mariagna Pictorico Ramon Prats and Palacio Municipal "Fifty Works, Fifty Artists" 50th Anniversary of the Autonomous University of the State of Morelos 1953-2003 Wings Arena-IDI Board Torreón, Coahuila