BIOGRAPHY
Who is Xavier Sala Aponte?
Born in Barcelona in 1964, he made his first pencil drawings as a young man, and his studies shifted toward technical drawing and later, technical engineering. He picked up his first paintbrushes at 22 and combined his professional life with his passion for art.
In 2024, after more than three decades since beginning his artistic career, he decided to fully present his work and show it to the public, embarking professionally in the art world. In his early years, his training was entirely self-taught, learning from publications and books of the time and visiting numerous museums.
Over the past 15 years, his training has continued, thanks to the resources available today.
His artistic career consists of three distinct stages:
In his early stage, he produced works in oils, primarily personal and family works, almost always figurative. He created a series of works themed around urban landscapes in the city of Barcelona, and taking advantage of the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, he decided to exhibit and make a name for himself.
Unfortunately, the exhibition never took place.
In his second phase, he dedicated himself to the study and reproduction of works from trends ranging from Impressionism to Expressionism, Cubism, and Fauvism. He made reproductions of some of the most famous works by Picasso, Matisse, Vincent van Gogh, Tamara Lempica, Toulouse Lautrec, Miro, Piet Mondrian, and Jean Helion, among others.
It was a period of learning and personal growth that helped him integrate the painting techniques of the works he studied into his palette.
His third and current phase focuses on creating original paintings, reworkings of classics, and creating sculptural works.
In painting, he seeks striking yet everyday themes, ranging from nudes to landscapes to scenes that denounce current events.
In sculpture, he is interested in the reuse of materials to create a series of works that seek to preserve the simplicity and everyday life before digitalization, reminding us of the passage of time through simple and easily accessible materials.
Projects:
Sala is currently working on a series of works dedicated to reworking the great Renaissance classics to give them a new, distinctive perspective. Some examples of the updating of existing and available Renaissance works include: "The Birth of Venus" by Sandro Botticelli, "Leda and the Swan," "Eve in Original Sin" by Albrecht Dürer, Michelangelo Buonarroti's Pietà, and The Descent from the Cross, among others.
Style Statement
I do not believe in the need for a single, recognizable painting style. I reject labels that limit creativity and prefer to define myself as a multifaceted painter, constantly evolving. My work moves freely, exploring the themes I'm passionate about without restrictions or pre-established formulas. However, there is a common thread that unites all my work: the human being. Their stories, beliefs, emotions, and desires are the essence of my art. Through painting, I seek to capture their beauty in all its dimensions, from joy to tragedy.
Statement of Intent
in first person
Why do we create art? Since the earliest manifestations on cave walls, images have been a powerful tool for telling stories without words.
That is the purpose of my work: to excite, move, and narrate through painting. Each piece is an invitation to feel, to reflect, to immerse oneself in a story. My goal is for the viewer not only to look, but to experience the power of the image and find in it a reflection of their own humanity.
My influences
My influences are endless, as there have been artists in the history of art. I try to learn from all of them and greatly value the richness of their legacies. From classics like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, whose technical mastery and understanding of the human body inspire me, to Impressionists like Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh, who taught me to play with light and color.
I also find inspiration in 20th-century avant-garde movements, such as the Cubism of Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, which challenge me to break down and reinterpret reality, and the Surrealism of Salvador Dalí, which invites me to explore dreamlike worlds and limitless imagination.
In contemporary times, I admire the versatility and innovation of artists like Yayoi Kusama, Ai Weiwei, and Banksy, who use their art as a means of expression and social protest. Furthermore, I cannot fail to mention the impact of artistic cultures and traditions from different parts of the world, which enrich my vision and broaden my creative horizons.
I feel fortunate to have access to this vast artistic legacy, which provides me with an inexhaustible source of learning and inspiration. Each artist, each movement, each work contributes to my development as a versatile painter, allowing me to approach my own creations with a unique and multifaceted perspective.
Xavier Sala