GILLES GORRITI'S PROFILE

Gilles Gorriti, an avid disciple of the French Modernist movement, was born in Paris in 1939 in a basque familly.Son of renowned artist Paul Aïzpiri, Gorriti grew up observing and learning from his father. His formal education began in 1955 at the Atelier de la Grande Chaumière, and continued at the Académie Julian in Paris. At just seventeen, Gorriti organized his first one-man exhibition at the Galerie Morval. The following year, 1958, he became a member of the Salon d’Automne, where he would continue to exhibit throughout his career.In 1962, he was invited to exhibit at the Salon de la Jeune Peinture. Later that year, in response to his widespread appeal and success, the city of Paris added one of his paintings to their influential collection.In 1965, his work appeared in the Fourth International Exhibition of Figurative Art in Japan.

In 1978 Gorriti held his exhibition in Japan at the Tamenaga galleries in Tokyo, following his success in Tokyo, he was then invited to exhibit in Tamenaga galleries in Paris,Tokyo and Osaka. The American Wally Findlay Galleries subsidiary, first exhibited the work of Gorriti in 1983 in Paris. The company’s East Hampton location chose Gorriti as the artist for its Inaugural Exhibition in May of 1999. Since then Wally Findlay Galleries has hosted exhibitions of the artist’s work at their historical Chicago, Palm Beach and New York locations.Gorriti’s one-man shows have received fame and success throughout the world, especially in France, Geneva, New York, Palm Beach, Los Angeles and Japan.

In addition to his French culture, Gorriti grew up in a basque familly, this double culture had a great influence on his creations.

Gorriti is also an accomplished guitarist and piano player, reinforcing his belief that music and painting are intertwined. He believes that the two work together to assist in developing the creative process and often symbols of these influences can be discerned in his paintings. He is passionate about Flamenco and classical music and always has music playing while working in his atelier in Paris.

Color is of the utmost importance to Gorriti, more so than subject matter. As a colorist, Gorriti is a virtuoso at using the full range of his palette. He creates both subtle, unobtrusive fragments of delicate tones alongside vibrantly orchestrated blocks of color, which demand attention. This striking interplay of colors is portrayed significantly and sets a stunning contrast to the generally serene subject matter, creating moods and stirring emotional responses from the viewer. His latest works highlight his genius as a colorist and as a master of texture.