68 - JOSÉ MANUEL MARTÍNEZ PÉREZ (Lepe, Huelva, 1972).

JOSÉ MANUEL MARTÍNEZ PÉREZ (Lepe, Huelva, 1972). “Envolvente.” Direct ink on paper and wash. Signed. One-of-a-kind work. Certificate of authenticity included. Measurements: 17.5 x 12.5 cm. José Manuel Martínez Pérez earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Seville, specializing in sculpture. From a very early age, he developed an interest in drawing, which he practiced as a self-taught artist until he began his studies in Fine Arts; at that time, he also began working on modeling and studying the classical tradition and 20th-century sculptors. Until 2001, he worked in his local studio and began exhibiting in Huelva and Seville. In 2002, he moved to Madrid, where he opened his studio and has since produced most of his artistic work. His work is represented at the MEAM (European Museum of Modern Art) in Barcelona. He has completed numerous public commissions in his homeland, including the Monument to the Sailor, the Monument to Old Age, the Monument to the Farmer, and the Tribute to Reading, among others. He is also the creator of the Antonio Gimbernat Award for Excellence and Medical Research, presented by the San Carlos Hospital in Madrid. He is currently represented by Lleid’Art Gallery and teaches drawing at the Escuela Superior de Dibujo Profesional (ESDIP). His recent exhibitions include “21st-Century Contemporary Art,” part of the permanent collection at the MEAM in Barcelona; “AlbaArte’13” at the Los Álamos Cultural Center in La Antilla (Huelva), 2013; the Miami River Art Fair 2012; “Proponendo 2011” at the Javier Román Gallery in Forte dei Marmi (Italy), and the Fran Daurel Foundation in Barcelona in 2012.