Ramón Gutiérrez
was born in Barcelona June 2, 1966. He is the eldest of the five children
of Juan José Gutiérrez and María Luisa Ruipérez.
When he was a child, thanks to the interest of his parents, art and
culture were always present in the activities of the family. In fact,
when he was young, Juan José Gutiérrez had done some paintings
himself as a hobby. In 1970, Ramon moved to Cerdanyola del Vallès.
Nowadays he lives in Sant Feliu de Guíxols on the Spanish Costa
Brava.
When he was a child, Ramón spent many hours drawing. But when he looks back on those "first steps in the world of art" he remembers it was only simple childlike play. In fact, his first passion for an artistic activity would not come through painting, but through music. Initially the Rock'n'Roll of the fifties was his inspiration, and later through all kinds of music. This passion continues today and the first thing he does when he arrives at his studio to paint is to put on some kind of music (e.g. blues, jazz, opera, Dylan, or the Stones…etc.) before beginning work.
From comics to painting
Towards 1980, his love of the first generation of rock'n'rollers
was suddenly displaced to a second term, due to the discovery of a new
form of expression i.e. the comics. In only a few weeks, he and some
of his friends became obsessed with everything related with this medium.
They began to draw without rest, and to read and collect all the books
and magazines that they could find. Ramón's interest in improving
his technique moved him to find new ways of learning, and soon he was
studying the styles of some of the greatest painters of all time. His
life changed completely the day that he discovered a book about Vincent
Van Gogh, in a friend's home. The paintings that he saw in that book
made a deep impression on him. A few months later, he visited "El
Museo del Prado", in Madrid, and he realized, from that moment
on there was only one way he could go… he wanted to be a painter.
Very soon after that, he took his first painting lessons in the "Els
4 Pintors" Academy, in Barcelona, where he studied for several
years, and where, as he said, he learnt almost everything that a painter
needs to know.
Studies
Between 1985 and 1991, he studied his Degree in Arts at the University
of Barcelona. At the same time, he increased the intensity of his creative
activity, painting without rest and showing his work in many individual
and shared exhibitions around Spain. During this period, he also established
some relationships that caused a deep impact on his life. He met other
painters (that, in some cases, are already internationally known) and
made contacts with figures not directly related to this world of art
but who influenced him deeply too. Perhaps between that second group
of people we should make a special comment about Xavier Cugat, the world
famous Catalan musician who was one of the best known figures in show
business during the decades, between the thirties and the fifties. Xavier
Cugat and Ramón Gutierrez became good friends during the last
months of the musician's life, and his death caused deep shock in the
young artist.
Once Ramón
finished his studies at the University, he carried on painting without
rest, and tried to find an opportunity to gain his own place in the
world of art. In order to make a living at the same time however, he
also began working as a teacher of painting techniques in several schools.
Paintings
Obviously,
his style has evolved a lot over the two decades that have elapsed since
painting became the reason for his existence. However his paintings
still maintain a "social" context that has always been an
integral part of his work. His well developed social conscience was
especially obvious during his first years, when he tried to reflect
the lives of beggars, poor people, and in general, the more unprotected
collectives of our society, through his painting. During more recent
years, nevertheless, his work has evolved to something more "kind".
Nowadays a good part of his paintings reflect maternity, however he
is also interested in other subjects such as; Greek mythology, what
he defines as "the wise people", or the Circus and Show Business
in general. Of course, as we already said, he is still absolutely "in
love" with everything related to any kind of music. All these influences
are ever present in his work.
He likes to think,
that while he tries to achieve a higher aesthetic level in his current
paintings than in his first works, this doesn't mean that he has forgotten
the social message that he wants to include in his paintings. Because
he believes that in this world in which we live, human values like love
or friendship are often forgotten. His paintings try to specifically
protect all these forgotten values. On the other hand, we can not ignore
the fact that now he is partnered with Clara, and they have two daughters
(Luna and Noa). Obviously, these significant life experiences have allowed
him to see life from a very different point of view than the one he
had as a teenager.
Becoming
International
A few years ago, Ramón
and his family left "Cerdanyola del Vallès" and have
settled into their
home in Sant Feliu de Guíxols, in Girona, where
they live today. In 2000, he started working with Carmen
Clusellas, an Art Gallery Owner from Barcelona, and one of the best art
dealers in Spain. Since his relationship with Carmen Clusellas began,
Ramon's career has taken an important step forward. His paintings are
exposed already in the United States and in Paris. As we write (January
2004), it seems that his work is already set to become a big hit on the
international market but only time will tell. One thing about which there
can be no doubt is that Ramón is an artist above all else and will,
for the rest of his life, continue doing the one thing he knows he was
born to... painting.
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