Eduardo Arroyo

Madrid, 1937

Eduardo Arroyo (born February 26, 1937) is a Spanish painter and graphic artist. He is also active as an author and set designer.

Arroyo, who was born in Madrid, studied art in his home city, but left Spain in 1958 because of his basic contempt for the regime of Francisco Franco (when Salvador Dalí came to terms with Franco in his old age, Arroyo later described him as a “whore”) and even lost his Spanish citizenship in 1974 (which he got back two years later, a year after the death of the Caudillo). In Paris, he befriended members of the young art scene, especially Gilles Aillaud, with whom he later collaborated in creating stage sets, but also the old master, Joan Miró. In 1964, he made his breakthrough with his first important exhibition. Over 20 years of great critical success and high esteem on the art market followed. Today, the ideologically and creatively uncompromising artist is as active as he ever was, even if it seems to have become somewhat quieter around his creations.

Stylistically, Arroyo’s mostly ironic, colorful works are...