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Draft:Santos Iñurrieta de la Fuente


Santos Iñurrieta de la Fuente
Santos Iñurrieta
Born(1950-07-08)July 8, 1950
Vitoria, Spain
DiedDecember 10, 2023(2023-12-10) (aged 73)
Mallorca, Spain
NationalitySpanish
EducationSchool of Arts and Crafts of Vitoria
Known forPainting

Santos Iñurrieta de la Fuente (Vitoria, July 8, 1950 – Mallorca, December 10, 2023)[1] was a prominent Spanish painter known for his deep commitment to social issues, which he expressed through his art. Iñurrieta was a central figure in the development of the artistic and cultural scene in the Basque Country, especially in Vitoria, during the last decades of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st.

Biography edit

Education and early years edit

Santos Iñurrieta was academically trained at the School of Arts and Crafts of Vitoria between 1964 and 1967. In the late 60s and early 70s, he participated alongside activist Javier Septién and Alavese artists such as Gabriel González, Lourdes Lacalle, and Xabi Montoia, in the Klink group, which combined anti-Francoist militancy and cultural agitation, providing a collective, open, anarchic, and fruitful space for local artists.

Personal life edit

At the age of 20, with Pilar Martinez Ocasar, he had his only son, Goar, who stood out as a guitarist for bands such as Cicatriz, Estopa, Nacha Pop, Bizcar Hezurra, and Sorry Mamma.

Artistic career edit

In 1972, he began to receive sponsorship from the entity that would become the Faustino Orbegozo Elzaguirre Foundation, the main promoter of abstraction in Basque art. With the Foundation already established, Iñurrieta participated alongside Juan Mieg, Carmelo Ortiz de Elgea, Jose Luis Zumeta, and others, in the influential Erakusketa – a traveling exhibition that introduced Basque art throughout Spain, from 1978 to 1980.

Activism and social consciousness edit

Iñurrieta's social consciousness was present in his work from the beginning, especially after the tragic 3rd of March events in 1976, when five workers were killed and one hundred and fifty people injured during the suppression of a strike.

Iñurrieta was very active in creating a cultural fabric in Vitoria. He was involved in the genesis of “Txo”, one of the first peñas – also known as “blusas” - that took to the streets of Vitoria during the festivals after the death of Franco, expressing critical and satirical views with banners he drew. He designed album covers for local bands such as Hertzainak and posters like the one for the 11th edition of the Vitoria International Jazz Festival (1987). He supported musicians, artists, cartoonists, actors, and film directors; fostering an interdisciplinary and dissenting breeding ground in his home and workshop.

Travels and influences edit

In 1980, during a trip to Kathmandu (Nepal), he came into contact with Buddhism and tantra, a vision of life that deeply impacted him and he never stopped exploring.

In 1983 he moved for a year to Lanzarote, dedicating himself exclusively to painting, settled in an old abandoned house that would eventually become a gathering point for artists.

There, his painting abandoned the volumetric abstraction that had distinguished him and transformed into the argumentative, ironic, referential, symbolist, biting, and colorful work he cultivated for the rest of his artistic life.

Life in Mallorca edit

In 1992, he met Mallorcan Joana Nicolau Duran, who would be his partner until his death[2]. In 1992 he moved to Mallorca, where his work expanded: the placidity, luminosity, and calm of the island found their place in Iñurrieta's increasingly baroque and ruthless imagery. During those years, he exhibited in Paris, Antwerp, Barcelona, Valencia, Lugo, Castellón, and more regularly in the Basque Country - to which he remained very connected - and in Mallorca. His work diversified: a diversion were the kajikas in the form of vignettes, playing with recycled elements in small formats, reflecting philosophically, ironically, or esoterically on life in multiple notebooks, and reading voraciously. In 2010, he introduced his alter ego Lui Diezbysi on social networks, mainly active on Facebook, where he offered satirical drawings and cartoons about current events and modern life.

Final years and legacy edit

Afflicted since youth with a painful spinal deformation, in the last ten years his health was diminished and his activity translated into intensive work in his Mallorca workshop. In 2017, the Basque Country Museum of Contemporary Art, Artium, mounted a major exhibition where the largest format work was displayed: 23 works of 190x390cm, 21 works of 200x200cm[3]. In 2018 he had his last two exhibitions in Vitoria-Gasteiz, at Zuloa Irudia, and at the Zas space. In 2019 he made his last trip to Vitoria-Gasteiz. In April 2023 he was diagnosed with cancer, which was the cause of his death. Between April and December 2023, he published a comic book, two folders of serigraphs, finished two large-format paintings, and painted small watercolors. Adversity did not undermine his dedication: he held the brush, then the marker, and finally the pencil, as long as he had a breath of energy.

Two months after his death, Zas space and Zuloa Irudia[4] held a tribute in which artists participated by creating works dedicated to Santos Iñurrieta, and friends contributed works by the artist.

Santiago Arcediano perfectly describes the character in the article from El Correo on February 28, 2023[5].

Work edit

The work of Santos Iñurrieta has evolved from its beginnings in various alternations of figuration and abstraction. Aimed in the early years at the spatial development of formal, compact, and resounding volumes, with anthropomorphic elements or imaginary stone organisms chained in their spatial environment, in the 70s his painting had a certain epic gigantism. His two characteristic veins were a deep social concern and an evident Basque affiliation, in solidarity with his people. In general, he faithfully follows the need to communicate from within everything he wants to explain about broadly collective situations. Gradually, color is delicately accentuated as the fruit of meticulous and thoughtful work. Santos' painting rapidly traverses a trajectory from the immediate sentimental to the intellectual. From the explicit and direct to the symbolic.

The clash of disjointed planes, the expansions of colors contained in his more abstract stage did not have enough force, and Santos made a strategic change in the 80s. It was essential that the events happening in his paintings had real protagonists, and hard faces were the first figures to emerge. Direct narration gained ground over the purely symbolic.

After his year in Lanzarote in 1983, he began to create a very argumentative, ironic, surreal, symbolist, and biting type of work. Anthropomorphic and zoomorphic beings with constant references to esotericism, kabbalah, and tarot, to a fantastic imagery, to eroticism... In short, a sharp critique of many aspects of contemporary society, with a deep ironic charge underscored by the extravagant and descriptive titles he gives to the paintings, a small subgenre within his work.


In 1992 Santos moved to Mallorca and from there shows us the stories of a daily life dislocated by imagination. His paintings are a visual feast, wanting to tell stories by introducing them into other stories. There are constant references to the world of art, past and present. They are acts of admiring homage rather than plagiaristic actions, Picasso, Matisse, Gris, Hockney among many others. He aspires to continue painting with total freedom, and that freedom includes visits to the icons of modern painting. He applies rather the surrealist method, decentralized, of intertwining narratives.

The critical intention serves him to articulate the dislocation of figures and double readings to bring the image to a point of fluidity capable of generating an open narrative.

Iñurrieta's painting is like a form of smile, as a labor exercise of happiness to express.

Iñurrieta refuses any movement and only intends to be in the place where he lives, producing paintings in his immobile space, without tension, without anxiety: he works as one who breathes.

He is aware that the stupidity of the world is not fixed with paintings that denounce stupidity.

"I have always liked the light, the silence, the strange noises, and what landscapes and nature bring you. The sense of human relationships, with their great lies and complexities, the ever-increasing lack of humanity, cause a tiredness that closes you off from external communication and puts many parts of your dialogue into your work. You are always looking for new paths, wanting to find the truth and the meaning of things"

Awards edit

  • 1973: Banco de Vizcaya Prize at the VI Gran Premio de Pintura Vasca, San Sebastián.[6]
  • 1978: Faustino Orbegozo Foundation Scholarship.
  • 1982: Second prize at Gure Artea, organized by the Basque Government, Bilbao.
  • 1985: Honorable Mention alongside sculptor Ibáñez de Matauko in the Gure Artea contest of the Basque Government, in the Manos Unidas category.

Publications edit

  • 1972: Javier Serrano, "Santos Iñurrieta", Catalogue, Mikeldi Gallery, Bilbao.
  • 1972: "Exhibition of Basque art", Catalogue, Baracaldo.
  • 1973: Javier Serrano, "Santos Iñurrieta", Catalogue, Mikeldi Gallery, Bilbao.
  • 1974: Javier Serrano, "A sculptor and four Alavese painters", CAM of Pamplona.
  • 1974: Javier Serrano and Santiago Viar, El Pez Gallery, San Sebastián, Catalogue.
  • 1976: "Artexpo", Vanguard art show, Barcelona Fair.
  • 1977: Javier Viar, "The Surreal Stage", B Gallery, San Sebastián, Catalogue.
  • 1978: "Euskal artea/ Basque art", Caja Laboral Euskadiko Kutxa, Catalogue.
  • 1978: "Euskal poetak eta artistak", Gipuzkoako Aurrezki Kutxa.
  • 1979: Julio Caro Baroja, "On the concept of Basque art".
  • 1979: Javier Viar, "Three generations of post-war Basque art".
  • 1979: Santiago Amón, "Notes for an approach to Erakusketa", Catalogue, Faustino Orbegozo Foundation, Velázquez Palace, Madrid.
  • 1980: "Catalogue of modern and contemporary art", Bilbao Fine Arts Museum.
  • 1980: Javier Serrano, "Santos Iñurrieta-Carmelo Ortiz de Elguea", Catalogue, Castel Ruiz Art Room, Caja de Ahorros de Navarra, Tudela.
  • 1981: "Arteder", Bilbao Contemporary Art Fair.
  • 1982: "Basque artists between realism and figuration 1970-1982", Catalogue, Madrid Municipal Museum.
  • 1986: "Basque Artists Pro campaign against hunger", Manos Unidas.
  • 1987: "Painting and sculpture meetings", 3 Taller Lantokia, Vitoria City Council.
  • 1990: "Basque Enterprise Magazine", no. 7.
  • 1990: Laureano Goñi, "Santos Iñurrieta. Paintings", Museum of Art and History of Durango.
  • 1990: "Santos Iñurrieta, Carmelo Ortiz de Elguea, Juan Mieg", Catalogue, San Telmo Museum.
  • 1991: Florencio Martínez Aguinagalde, "Santos Iñurrieta", Art International Gallery.
  • 1996: "Euskal Margolariak. Basque Painters Magazine", no. 6.
  • 1997: "Euskal Margolariak. Basque Painters Magazine", no. 7.
  • 1996: Santiago Arcediano Salazar, "History of the San Prudencio room".
  • 1996: José Luis Merino, Catalogue, Citadel of Pamplona.
  • 1997: "Erakusketa", Faustino Orbegozo Foundation, Joan Miró Foundation, Barcelona.
  • 1997: "Interart", International Art Fair, Official Catalogue.
  • 1997: "Kulturgintza 1971-1996", 25th anniversary of Windsor Kulturgintza, Provincial Council of Bizkaia.
  • 1997: "Public Collection", Gustavo de Maeztu Museum, Visions of contemporary Navarrese and Basque art in the Museum of Fine Arts of Álava.
  • 1997: José Luis Merino, "Santos Iñurrieta 1995-1997", Catalogue, Arte Xerea.
  • 1998: "Athletic Club de Bilbao 1898-1998. Art in the Cathedral".
  • 1998: "MAC", International Contemporary Art Fair, Marbella.
  • 1999: "Exhibitions catalogue 1999", Ajuria Aretoa Room.
  • 2000: "Remirada", The eighties decade at the Museum of Fine Arts of Álava.
  • 2000: Santos Iñurrieta, "The Island", Catalogue, Clérigos Gallery, Lugo.
  • 2001: "ArteGaleria La Brocha", Group exhibition, Catalogue.
  • 2002: Epelde Mardaras Gallery, "Kajitas", Catalogue.
  • 2005: "70 Artists", José Luis Merino.
  • 2006: "Aralarte 2006. On the edge of the wing".
  • 2007: "Artea Oinez 07", CAN Foundation.
  • 2007: "Celedón Magazine", no. 88, 50th Anniversary.
  • 2017: "May you have a good time", Catalogue, Artium Museum, Álava.
  • 2018: "Suite Menut", Zuloa Irudia, Catalogue, Vitoria. [7]
  • 2022: "Villa Magedonov", Mallorca.

Exhibitions edit

  • 1970: Solo exhibition at the Culture Halls of the Provincial Savings Bank of Vitoria.
  • 1971: Group exhibition "Current Basque painters" in Torre Luzea, Zarauz.[8]
  • 1972: Solo exhibition in the culture halls of Vitoria, in the Mikeldi gallery in Bilbao, and in the Municipal Culture Halls of Durango. Participation in the "Exhibition of Basque art" in the town hall of Baracaldo.[9]
  • 1973: Solo exhibition at the Savings Bank of Pamplona.[10] Solo exhibition in the Luis de Ajuria Halls, Vitoria.[11] Solo exhibition in the Mikeldi Gallery, Bilbao.[12] Participation in the group exhibition "J.M. Barandiarán Gorazarre-Tribute to Father Don José Miguel Barandiarán", in Ataún, Guipúzcoa.
  • 1974: Solo exhibition in Pez Gallery, San Sebastián.[13] Group exhibition "A sculptor and four Alavese painters" in the San Telmo Museum, San Sebastián and in the Art Pavilions of the savings bank of Pamplona.[14]
  • 1975: Group exhibition of Alavese artists in the Luis de Ajuria hall, Vitoria. Solo exhibition in Eder Arte Gallery.[15]
  • 1976: Solo exhibition in Luzaro Gallery, Bilbao. Group exhibition "Objects" in Luzaro Gallery, Bilbao.
  • 1977: Solo exhibition in B Gallery, San Sebastián.[16]
  • 1978: Group exhibition "Euskal Artea 78-Basque Art 78" in the culture classroom of the municipal savings bank of Bilbao.
  • 1979: Group exhibition "Erakusketa 79" in the Velázquez Palace, Madrid.[17]
  • 1980: Exhibition with Carmelo Ortiz de Elguea in the Castel-Ruiz Hall of Tudela. Group exhibition "Erakusketa 79" in the Miró Foundation of Barcelona.
  • 1981: "Arte Eder 81", Bilbao Contemporary Art Fair. Solo exhibition in Ederti Gallery, Bilbao.
  • 1982: Group exhibition in the Halls of the City Hall of Madrid "Basque artists between realism and figuration 1970-1982".
  • 1983: Solo exhibition in El Almacén Gallery, Arrecife, Lanzarote.
  • 1984: Solo exhibition in Windsor Gallery, Bilbao. Solo exhibition in the Savings Bank of Vitoria.[18]
  • 1986: Exhibition in Tórculo Hall, Burgos. Exhibition in Manos Unidas, Vitoria. Exhibition in Lipari Restaurant, Vitoria.
  • 1987: Exhibition "Gernika 37-87" in Gernika. Solo exhibition in the Provincial Savings Bank of Vitoria.[19]
  • 1988: Serigraphy exhibition in the Provincial Savings Bank Foundation. Exhibition and realization of a mural in the San Prudencio Hall, in tribute to Jorge Oteiza. Realization of a mural for the Hotel Gasteiz of Vitoria.
  • 1989: Group exhibition "Basque Artists" in the savings hall of Bilbao. Exhibition in Orma, Amárica Hall. Realization of a mural for the Basque Courts building. Solo exhibition "Graphic Work" in Dendaraba Hall.
  • 1990: Solo exhibition in the Museum of Art and History of Durango.[20] Solo exhibition in Pintzel Gallery of Pamplona. Solo exhibition in San Prudencio Hall, Vitoria.[21]
  • 1991: Solo exhibition in "Art International Gallery", Bilbao.[22] Participation in the Collective Biennial of Cuba, Havana.[23] Solo exhibition in Arte Xerea Gallery, Valencia.
  • 1992: Participation in ARCO, Madrid with Arte Xerea Gallery. Solo exhibition in the Olaguibel Hall, Vitoria. Solo exhibition in the S´agrícola Hall, Manacor, Mallorca.
  • 1993: Solo exhibition in Lourdes Ugarabe Gallery, Vitoria. Solo exhibition in De Griffioen Gallery, Antwerp.[24] Solo exhibition in Arte Xerea Gallery, Valencia.
  • 1994: Participation in Interart with Arte Xerea Gallery.
  • 1996: Solo exhibition in Torre de ses Puntes, Manacor, Mallorca.[25] Exhibition in the mixed pavilion, The Citadel, Pamplona.[26]
  • 1997: Solo exhibition in Berta Belaza Gallery, Bilbao.[27] Participation in Artexpo Toulouse and Interart, Valencia. Solo exhibition in Arte Xerea, Valencia.[28]
  • 1998: Participation in Artexpo, Barcelona.[29] Participation in the Marbella MAC Fair, Interart.
  • 1999: Solo exhibition in the Luis de Ajuria Hall, Vitoria.
  • 2000: Solo exhibition in La Brocha Gallery, Bilbao.[30] Solo exhibition "The Island" in Clérigos Gallery, Lugo.[31] Solidarity exhibition with the repressed.[32] Solo exhibition in Arte Xerea Gallery, Valencia.
  • 2001: Participation in the collective Uribitarte, Bilbao.[33]
  • 2002: Solo exhibition "Kajikas" in Zuloa Irudia, Vitoria.[34] Solo exhibition in Epelde Mardaras.[35]
  • 2005: Solo exhibition in Zuloa Irudia.[36] Solo exhibition in Camí del Mar gallery, Manacor.
  • 2007: Exhibition in Byzance Gallery with sculptor Serge Van de Put, Paris.
  • 2008: Participation in the collective of the Caja Vital Foundation.[37]
  • 2017: Solo exhibition "May you have a good time" at the Artium Museum, Vitoria.[38]
  • 2018: Zuloa Space “Suite Menut” Santos Iñurrieta, Patxi Aldunate, Benito Herreruela [39]

Work in museums and collections edit

The work of Santos Iñurrieta de la Fuente is found in various prominent collections and museums, reflecting the importance and recognition of his work in the art world. Among them are:

  • Bilbao Fine Arts Museum, which houses a significant collection of Basque and Spanish art, including works by Iñurrieta.
  • Museum of Spanish Abstract Art, located in Cuenca, known for its extensive collection of Spanish abstract art, where pieces by Iñurrieta are included.
  • Álava Provincial Museum, in Vitoria, which has a wide range of works representing the region's artistic heritage, including those by Iñurrieta.
  • San Telmo Museum, in San Sebastián, which possesses a rich collection of Basque art and culture, among which are works by Iñurrieta.
  • The collection of Bilbao Bank, which includes artworks by various artists, including Iñurrieta.
  • The collection of Vizcaya Bank, known for its commitment to culture and art, holds works by Iñurrieta.
  • Bankunión, which has included works by Iñurrieta in its art collection, reflecting the interest of financial institutions in contemporary art.
  • Caja Laboral, known for its support of Basque culture and art, where works by Iñurrieta are included in its collection.

These collections and permanent exhibitions in museums highlight the relevance of Iñurrieta in the art scene and his contribution to culture.

Iñurrieta, Santos Iñurrieta, Santos

References edit

  1. ^ Obituary
  2. ^ "Fallece el pintor vitoriano Santos Iñurrieta". EITB (in Spanish). 2023-12-11. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  3. ^ "Santos Iñurrieta. Ke usted lo pase bien". artium.eus (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  4. ^ "TRIBUTE TO SANTOS IÑURRIETA". Zas Space (in Spanish). 2024-02-18. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  5. ^ Arcediano, Santiago (February 28, 2024). "The echoes of Iñurrieta". El Correo.
  6. ^ La Gaceta del Norte, January 10, 1973.
  7. ^ Zuloa inaugurates Suite Menut
  8. ^ La Gaceta del Norte, 4-27-71 / Norte Express, 4-24-71.
  9. ^ Norte Express, 12-8-71.
  10. ^ Diario de Navarra, 2-7-73.
  11. ^ La Voz de España, 3-24-73.
  12. ^ El Correo, 11-6-73.
  13. ^ La Voz de España, 3-9-74.
  14. ^ La Voz de España, 9-13-74 / El Pensamiento Navarro, 11-27-74.
  15. ^ La Voz de España, 2-7-75 / Norte Express, 2-6-75 / La Gaceta del Norte, 2-7-75.
  16. ^ El Diario Vasco, 2-13-77.
  17. ^ Norte Express, 1-10-79.
  18. ^ El Correo Español, 5-4-84.
  19. ^ El Correo Español, 6-11-87.
  20. ^ Deia, 3-7-90.
  21. ^ El Correo Español, 1-21-91 / Egin, 1-26-91 / El Punto, 2-6-91.
  22. ^ Egin, 5-14-91 / Deia, 5-5-91.
  23. ^ El Mundo, 2-26-92.
  24. ^ Gazette Van Antwerpen, 10-20-94.
  25. ^ Baleares, 4-29-96.
  26. ^ Diario de Noticias, 12-6-96 / Diario de Navarra, 12-6-96.
  27. ^ El Correo, 1-23-97 / El Correo, 1-18-97.
  28. ^ Levante, El Mercantil Valenciano, 11-7-97.
  29. ^ El Mundo, 4-30-98 / Paris Match, 5-11-98.
  30. ^ El País, 1-31-2000 / El Mundo, 1-16-00.
  31. ^ El Progreso, 3-4-00 / La Voz de Lugo, 3-4-00.
  32. ^ Gara, May 00.
  33. ^ El Correo, 3-18-01.
  34. ^ Deia, 2-8-02 / El País, 2-8-02 / El País, 2-14-02 / Gara, 2-8-02.
  35. ^ Gara, 10-30-02 / El País, 10-31-02.
  36. ^ El Correo, 5-6-05.
  37. ^ El Correo, 2-29-08.
  38. ^ Noticias de Álava, 9-15-17 / Diario, 9-14-17 / Diario de Noticias de Álava
  39. ^ Gaur8 10-6-18/Diario 9-27-18/El Correo 9-27-18


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