MARFÀ, Josep

Born in Barcelona on May 17, 1928, and passed away in the same city in 2014. His artistic inclination emerged at a very early age through his father's connection with the painter Oleguer Junyent, whom he adopted as a mentor by constantly observing his drawings and paintings, which sparked his passion for art. He studied painting at the School of Fine Arts and Crafts, the Baixas Academy, and various artistic centers in Barcelona. During the 1960s and 1970s, he traveled extensively across Europe, connecting with fellow painters to exchange ideas in his pursuit of color and technique to express his impressions more intensely. He began exhibiting in 1968, from which point his paintings became a regular presence in private collections and museums across Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, and England. Neither the Americas nor Asia could resist the charm of his artwork. His oil paintings and watercolors connect with the Catalan landscape tradition in the symphonic colorist style pioneered by Joaquim Mir, which he adapted with remarkable skill to the aquatic reflections of his seascapes and harbor views. His perception of color is rich in nuances; his light, deft brushwork contrasts with harmonies of warm and cool tones alongside interplay of complementary colors.