About the artist:

Julio Larraz was born in Havana, Cuba, on 12 March 1944. The son of a newspaper publisher, he began to draw at a very early age. In 1961 his parents moved to Miami, Florida, taking the whole family with them. In 1962 they moved to Washington, D.C., and in 1964 to New York City, where Larraz lived for the next five years. There he began to draw political caricatures which were published by the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune and Vogue magazine, among others. In 1967 Larraz began working full time as a painter. He credits several New York artists, including Burt Silverman, for teaching him various painting techniques. In 1971 his first solo exhibition was held at the Pyramid Galleries in Washington, D.C. In 1972 he had an exhibition at the New School for Social Research in New York. A year later, his paintings were shown at the FAR Gallery in New York. In 1976 he won awards from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the National Institute of Arts and Letters. The same year he was also awarded the Cintas Grant from the Institute of International Education. A year later Larraz moved to San Patricio, New Mexico, fascinated by the light and atmosphere of the barren hills of the Hondo Valley. It was there that he met Ron Hall, his future dealer, who is based in Texas. In 1978 Larraz bought a house in Grandview, New York. There he met Nohra Haime whose New York gallery represented him until 1994. In 1983 he moved to Paris, remaining there for two years. In 1986 he moved to Miami, Florida, with his wife. Julio Larraz is best known for his precise and detailed technique, his imagination, and his unique subtle touch, all of which have helped affirm his reputation as one of the most important contemporary Latin American painters. Cintas Grant, Instituto de Educación Internacional , New York American Academy of Arts and Letters and National Institute of Arts and Letters, New York Purchase Prize, Childe Hassam Fund Purchase Exhibition, American Academy of Arts and Letters and National Institute of Arts and Letters, New York. 1997 Facts About Cuban Exile, FACE, Miami ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Chronology 1944Born Julio Fernàndez Larraz on 12 March in Havana, Cuba, to Emma Larraz Sorondo de Fernàndez and Julio César Fernàndez. His Family owns a major newspaper in Havana, which is run by his parents. 1944-1961Lives with his family in Havana. Attends numerous private(primary and secondary) schools. Begins drawings as a child, although he does not formally study art. Does caricatures, several of which are published in Havana. 1961Leaves Cuba with his family; goes to Miami where he remains for one year. 1962Moves to Washington D.C. 1963Moves to Martinsburg, Pennsylvania, where his parents teach Spanish. 1964Moves to New York City. Works at a wide variety of jobs not related to art. Continues to do caricatures. 1967Starts to paint professionally; he assists to workshops at the studio of Burt Silverman, and later to the studios of David Levine and Aaron Shikler. 1969Marries Scott Mills; moves to Rockleigh, New Jersey. Continues to work with Burt Silverman. 1970Daughter Saskia born. 1971Has first exhibition of his work at the pyramid Galleries Ltd., Washington D.C. 1972Son Ariel born. Has exhibitions of caricatures at the galleries of the New School for Social Research, New York. Moves to Upper Nyack, New York. 1973Begins an association with FAR gallery in New York, where he has his first solo exhibition. 1976Wins Award in Art from American Academy of Arts and Letters and National Institute of Arts and Letters. Travels to Europe for the first time; visits France and Italy. 1977Goes to San Patricio, New Mexico, and remains there working for one year. Meets Ron Hall, his future dealer in Dallas and Forth Worth, Texas. 1978Solo exhibition with Hirschl and Adler in New York. He moves to Grandview New York and discovers Scott Mills. 1979Meets Nohra Haime, his future dealer in New York. 1982First Exhibition with the Nohra Haime Gallery, who will represent him for the next ten years. 1983Becomes an American citizen. Begins a year's stay in Paris. 1987-1988Buys house in Miami. Meets Pilar Botero. 1990Daughter Maia born. 1993Daughter Miranda born. 1994Solo Exhibition at Peter Findlay Gallery, New York. 1995Solo Exhibition at the Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa. 1997Wins award in Fine Art Excellence FACE, Facts About Cuban Exile. 1998Galleria Giulio Tega in Milan begins to represent him in Italy. Has an exhibit in Boca Raton Museum, Boca Raton, Florida. 1999Begins to work with Marlborough Gallery. 2000First solo exhibition with Marlborough Gallery, Boca Raton, Florida. His son Pablo is born in Florence, where he now lives with his family and works.