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Concierto en las Horas del Dia
(Bronze Bowl)
"Natura I Pau" and "Maternitat en el Poble"
(Maternitat Suite)
Les Temps de Nos Jours
(Ceramic Vase)
Autumn
(Ceramic Bas Relief)
Concierto de Amancer
Estimant La Natura
Alvar’s lithographic process is both unique and original. In fact, to Alvar the term “original lithograph” is indicative of the artist’s engagement in the lithograph’s production process. The uniqueness of Alvar’s lithographs lies with the fact that each subject is initially conceived to be an original lithograph.
From conception to completion, Alvar is intimately involved with the edition’s production. In the printing atelier, he creates by hand the subtle nuances and distinct design of each color on a separate zinc plate. After the paper is taken through the press a separate time for each color, Alvar personally inspects each run to insure his desired results. From here Alvar takes his lithographs to an embossing atelier where he again works the design of the lithographs, adding embossing that compliments the printed composition. In his private studio, Alvar then hand watercolors the remarque portion of the lithograph. The final step is to hand sign and number each lithograph.
Alvar Suñol Muñoz-Ramos was born in the Catalan costal village of Montgat near Barcelona in 1935. Alvar grew up on the sunny Mediterranean coast with his father Tomas, mother Antonia and his older brother and sister, Jordi and Amadea. He started painting oils at age 12. Showing a great artistic talent, he attended the prestigious Sant Jordi Art School in Barcelona at age 16, and at age 17 he was accepted at the Escuela Superior de Belles Artes in Barcelona. During this period the Museum of Modern Art in Barcelona acquired one of his paintings for its permanent Collection. Before graduating from Belles Artes he was given his first one-man show, Barcelona, 1957.
In the following year the Instituit Francias awarded him a scholarship to study in Paris. He has exhibited throughout Europe, the United States, Canada and Japan. His lithographs, painting and sculpture have been presented in major shows at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, the Wichita Art Museum, the Kumamoto Museum and the Fukuoka Museum and at individual exhibition's in Brussels, Barcelona and Madrid.
At age 18, Alvar won the Alhambra de Granada grant, a summer scholarship that allowed him to travel and paint throughout Spain. This was the birth of Alvar's style and the laying of the technical foundation that would accompany him over the following years. Alvar returned home and entered a painting in competition for the Young Painters Prize sponsored by the City of Barcelona. He won the Grand Prize and the Museum of Modern Art in Barcelona acquired the painting for its permanent collection.
In 1957, at age 22, Alvar gave his first one-man show at the Galleries Layetana in Barcelona. The exhibit was a great success and Alvar received many invitations for shows in other Spanish cities. He entered one of his canvasses for the annual painting competition at the French Institute of Barcelona. He again won the Grand Prize, and with it a study trip to Paris
Alvar arrived in Paris to paint in 1959. He met Juan Fuentes, a fellow Spaniard and director of the prestigious Gallery Drouant. Fuentes brought Alvar's first group of Paris oil paintings to the gallery. All of the paintings sold in one week. He was subsequently invited to join the celebrated School of Paris, a group of the top young artists in Paris, organized by the distinguished Charpentier Gallery.
Alvar returned to Barcelona in 1960 to marry his childhood sweetheart, Rosella Berenguer. They returned to Paris and lived there for the next ten years. His paintings were exhibited in the United States for the first time at the Monede Gallery, New York City, in 1962. Alvar produced his first original lithographs for a one-man show at Gallery Drouant in 1963. In 1970, Alvar and Rosella left Paris and returned to their beloved Spain to raise their three young children. He has lived there ever since.
Following the great tradition of other great Spanish painters of the 20th Century, including Joan Miro, Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali, the unique and distinctive artwork of Alvar Sunol Munoz-Ramos has taken a revered spot in the history and iconography of our times.