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Angeles, as she is affectionately called, has the distinction of being
one of the first women from Spain to make her mark internationally in the
world of painting. She graduated as the only woman from the Real Academia
de Bellas Artes San Carlos in 1950. She was one of original members of the
Group Los Siete, who were honored in a 1996 retrospective exhibition
(Valencia) of Valencian painters whose careers started in the 1950s. Her
work is divided into three periods: Spanish, South American (Caracas
1957-1960), and American (1960-present). She was one of the very first
women from Spain to have a solo exhibition of her work in the United
States (1961-Galerie Internationale-New York City).
Angeles is a Renaissance woman of our age; trained since age 11 in a
classical European art tradition, versed in the mythology of Antiquity,
understanding thoroughly the foundations of Spanish, European and world
history, and keenly aware of current events. She is a woman of today who
transmits and interprets the past as well as illustrates her perceptions
of contemporary life. Her life has been filled with correspondence and
accolades from such cultural luminaries as Josef von Sternberg, Ramon
Sender, Alicia de la Rocha, Pete Seeger, la Condesa de Campo Alange, and
Juan Antonio Samaranch. It was Sender who termed her work "vital or
vitalistic." He continued that " ... harmony is the result, at the same
time intelligent and naive, of all levels of sensitivity. Her painting is
life itself, an inspired synthesis of that human complexity which we are
and in which we exist." The work of Angeles has been used for UNICEF cards
and calendars, and illustrates Marie Seton's biography - Sergei Eisenstein
(1987 - Dobson Books, Ltd., London).
Biographical Highlights
1950 - graduates as only woman from
the Real Academia de Bellas Artes San Carlos, Valencia (Spain)
1951 -
selected to participate in the 1st Biennale of Art of the Kingdom of
Valencia
1952 - interview on Spanish National Radio
- Madrid
National Contest - National Library (Madrid)
1953 - founder and member
of the group Los Siete
- designs sets for Christmas Altarpiece, a
musical play by composer, Matilde Salvador (Teatro Nacional -
Valencia)
1954 - sets for the ballet group of Artemis
Markessinis
1955 - one-artist show Galeria Alfil (Madrid)
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interview on Spanish National Radio with art critic, Antonio Manuel
Compoy
1956 - 2nd Bienal Hispanoamericana de Arte (Barcelona)
1957 -
one-artist show at the British Institute (Caracas, Venezuela); opened by
British Ambassador Sir John Walker
1958 - one-artist show at Museum of
Fine Arts (Maracaibo, Venezuela)
- 1st National Exhibition at Museum of
Fine Arts (Caracas)
1959 - one-artist show at Museum of Fine Arts
(Caracas)
1960 - 1st Group Exhibition at Galerie Internationale (New
York City)
1961 - one-woman show at Galerie Internationale (New York
City)
1962 - one-artist show, University of New Mexico
(Albuquerque)
1963 - one-artist show, University of New Hampshire
(Durham)
- IV March Salon, Valencia (Spain)
1964 - one-artist show,
Oberlin College (Ohio, USA)
1965 - National Exhibition (Indianapolis,
Indiana)
1967 - UNICEF calendar and holiday cards - Girl With Dove
(United Nations - NYC)
1971 - Contemporary American Art - Artists
USA (chosen for yearbook)
1972 - one-artist show, Universidad San
Agustin (Arequipa, Peru)
1973 - one-artist show, Universidad San Marcos
(Lima, Peru)
1974 - chosen for yearbook Printmakers, published
by Contemporary American Art
1975 - one-artist show, Library of Rosslyn
Heights (Long Island)
1976 - one-artist show, Elizabeth Seton Library
(Riverdale, New York)
1977 - organizer and art director of exhibitions
for Hispanic Heritage Week of New York State (Albany, New York)
1978 -
illustrations for the journal Democratic Women (Madrid,
Spain)
1980 - Friends Of UNESCO, travelling exhibition (Valencia,
Barcelona, Zaragoza, Madrid-Spain)
1981 - illustrations for the
cultural journal Progreso (New York City)
1982 - exhibition at
Lynn Cotler Galleries (New York City)
1983 - group exhibition, Galerie
Internationale (NYC)
1984 - individual exhibition, New York State
Museum (Albany, New York)
1986 - individual exhibition at TOB
Galleries, curators John Froebel-Parker and Maria de las Nieves Gonzalez
Montejano
1987 - appears in Marie Seton's biography Sergei
Eisenstein
1989 - illustrates journal Zurgai, dedicated to
Spanish poet Antonio Machado (Bilbao, Spain)
1990 - individual
exhibitions at Federal Building (Albany, NY) and Galeria Grupo Arte
(Madrid-Albany), curators John Froebel-Parker and Maria de las Nieves
Gonzalez Montejano
- illustrations for premier issues of Art &
Understanding, America's first magazine dedicated to the art and
literature of HIV/AIDS
1991 - retrospective at Galeria Grupo Arte
(Madrid-Albany), curated by John Froebel-Parker and Maria de las Nieves
Gonzalez Montejano
1992 - Homage To Marlene Dietrich, group show at
Grupo Arte (Madrid-Albany) dedicated to the late actress (Angeles had been
long-time correspondent with director, Josef von Sternberg)
1993 - 1996
(international treatment for glaucoma and recuperation)
1996 -
exhibition in Valencia dedicated to important Valencian artists starting
in the 1950s. Inaugurated by HRH Sofia, Queen of Spain
1997 - Drawings
From The Academy, Froebel Gallery (Albany, New York); drawings on
classical themes executed by the artist between the ages of 11-14
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Drawings From The Academy, Albany Public Library (Albany) |
TITLE: Descent From the Cross
Medium: oil over tempera on
masonite, 85cm. X 100cm., 33in. X 39in. 1954
O Head so sorely wounded,
Defiled and put to scorn,
O sacred Head
surrounded
By mocking crown of thorn,
O Head, adored and
honoured,
So lovely fair to see,
But now so low degraded,
I greet
and treasure Thee.
Chorus: The Passion of Our Lord According to St. Matthew,
Johann
Sebastian Bach
To see this image in greater detail or to see more of the artist's
work, please contact the Gallery for photographs. We can also schedule an
appointment to see her work in person. Contact information is provided on
our homepage.
A lovely photo of Angeles Ballester, the first woman artist from Spain who ever had a one artist exhibition in America (1961 Galerie Internationale, New York City) and who is represented exclusively by Froebel Gallery.
PHOTO by Jose Alarico Ballester, brother of artist
Valencia, Spain 1949
FIRST PLACE IN KODAK COMPETITION IN VALENCIA
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