José Antonio Ormaolea Gandiaga

JOSÉ ANTONIO ORMAOLEA GANDIAGA (Elantxobe, Bizkaia, 1912 - Barcelona, 1984).
"Eskillarar Berantz", Elantxobe, 1980.
Oil on canvas.
Signed in the lower right corner. Signed, dated and located on the back.
Measurements: 100 x 100 cm; 128 x 128 cm (frame).

Born in Bizkaia, José Antonio Ormaolea lived in Guinea between 1934 and 1945, the year of his return to Bilbao, and did not begin his artistic career until 1971. He will hold his first exhibitions in Barcelona (1972 and 1974), Bilbao (1972 and 1974) and Madrid (1973), and later he will also show his work in Donostia and Vitoria. His painting is characterized by formal stylization, by dispensing with details, reducing forms to geometric volumes, without renouncing light and atmospheric effects. His is a painting of strong and contrasted chromatism, although always balanced and well thought out, looking for expressive effects. He is currently represented in the Artium of Vitoria, as well as in various private collections.