ROYO
b. 1945
Captivating viewers with his dream-like figurative studies of light and shadow, Royo’s nostalgic compositions are at once tranquil and scintillating. Born in 1945 in Valencia, Spain, Royo began demonstrating his artistic talent early. At the age of 9, his father, a prominent physician and avid art enthusiast employed private tutors to instruct Royo in drawing, painting, and sculpture. When Royo turned 14 he entered the San Carlos Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Valencia. Upon turning 18 Royo continued his artistic studies privately with Adolpho Ferrer Amblat, Chairman of Art Studies at the San Carlos Academy. He also visited the major museums in Europe at this time to study the famous masters — Velasquez, Goya, Renoir, Monet, and Sorolla among others. During the mid-60s and early-70s, Royo added more dimensions to his skills creating theater sets and doing graphic illustrations. He also participated in several competitions, gaining major distinctions. In 1968 he began to exhibit at prestigious galleries in Lisbon, Madrid, and Barcelona. With the positive reception of his works in Madrid, Royo received commissions to paint the royal portraits of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia. Throughout the 1980s Royo perfected his style of painting the Mediterranean and exhibited abroad, notably in London, Brussels, Copenhagen, and Paris. He also participated in the International Geneva Art Fair. From 1989 through today, we see Royo's distinct, mature style. His dramatic usage of color and texturing capture his subject matter with a unique flair. Parallels can be drawn to the work of the European masters. For example, with Royo's homage to the female form, we can see the distinct influence of Renoir. It is a similar, almost portrait-like treatment of the female model, caught in a serene, contemplative moment, with the surrounding bursts of color from the floral landscapes where we see the Renoir in Royo's work.