Alberto Solsona

Alberto Solsona (Barcelona, 1947 – Madrid, 1988) studied at the Escola Massana in Barcelona, moving to Madrid in 1970, where he lived until his death. From the late sixties to the late eighties, his paintings developed from a Pop art verging on psychedelic critique to a sensual abstraction with serene arabesque motifs. Solsona used the language of mass culture and the world of comics to denounce cultural repression during the final years of the Franco regime. Thus, serial icons and invented characters were put in surreal situations in a very playful manner. Between 1972 and 1977, he signed many of his works together with his partner, the figurative painter Fernando Almela (Valencia, 1943 – Madrid, 2009). With extensive cultural references and a strong passion for music, Solsona was also a writer, above all of poetry, in Catalan, and autobiographical works. He developed a career as an illustrator for the publishing house Bruguera, among other Spanish, English and German publishers. He illustrated popular series such as La Familia Telerín (The Telerín Family), classic children’s stories and literary works such as Poemas de Walt Whitman (La Mota, 1978). After the death of Solsona, in 1991 Fernando Almela created the Fundación Alberto Solsona: in 2009, following the death of Almela, this was renamed the Fundación Almela-Solsona.