CASAS ANFRUNS, Llorenç

Llorenç Casas Anfruns (1948–2023) was a prominent Catalan painter and sculptor, widely recognized as "Gaudí's painter" due to his dedication to Modernist architecture and the urban landscape. Born in Sant Julià de Cerdanyola (Barcelona) in 1948, he trained in design, architecture, and fine arts, initiating his painterly vocation under the guidance of the master painter Rafael de Soto. In 1968, he settled in Ibiza, focusing on wood carving, drawing, and painting on paper. In 1978, he established his residence in Paris, where the gray atmosphere, mist, and rain marked a decisive turning point in his style, leading him to develop a celebrated theme of wet streets and melancholic environments that merges meticulous realism with impressionistic nuances. During the 1980s and 1990s, he exhibited in cities such as Paris, Rome, Venice, Amsterdam, and London, receiving major awards at competitions in southern France. Following the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, he focused his artistic exploration on the Catalan capital and the organic language of Antoni Gaudí, capturing iconic buildings like La Pedrera, Casa Batlló, Park Güell, and the Sagrada Família. He passed away in January 2023 at the age of 74, leaving behind an artistic legacy held in private collections across Europe, the United States, and Japan.