Luis Fraile

Luis Martínez Fraile, better known as Luis Fraile (Albacete, February 7, 1947 - Madrid, January 5, 2016), was a Spanish artist with an extensive career path, who developed his activity mainly in Madrid. He embraced various trends and styles throughout his prolific artistic life, developing a style of his own around surrealism, reflecting a subconscious and dreamlike world:

"To put a name, to frame in a time or to lock in an 'ism' the painting of Luis Fraile is to fall in the mistake of erring the true intention of its author. As he himself says "I can not get locked in an artistic trench, because I always look for new forms, even if the sensitive background is the same". He flees away from the generalizations that seem to tie him to a pictorial wheel with which he is not identified. Nevertheless, in his painting it's left no less than to perceive surrealistic traits, in those strange beings that populate them, at the same time with features of Impressionism and Expressionism, the ones he is been discovering throughout his years of learning and in a way, assimilating. But its characteristic is the syncretism of an art that knows how to take advantage of all the 'isms' and has managed to overcome them."

Doris Martínez Ferrero - Formas Plásticas Magazine, Year V

Biographical review

He was born in Albacete, in a humble family from the neighborhood of Casas Baratas, being the first of the two children of Valentín Martínez Flores and Julia Fraile Montalbán. During his childhood he combines studies with several jobs, amongst others as an employee in the mythical Casino Primitivo of the city, laboural and vital experiences that helped to forge a very critical and mature view of the environment from a very early age. At the age of 20 he became Draftsman and Urban Planning Designer at the City Hall of his hometown. He worked for the Cadastre and with the renowned architect Julio Carrilero Prat, designing amongst others, the Nautical Club of Torrevieja. Being Painting his true vocation, he decides to undertake several travels abroad in order to improve his technique and to learn new methods.

He studied Altarpiece and Polychromy in the Massana School of Barcelona, Ceramic (Barcelona Arts and Crafts School), as well as Engraving and Lithography, not only in the Catalan metropolis, but also in Paris (Atelier Hayter) and Toronto (North Toronto Collegiate), where he also made his living creating stained glass artworks. During his Parisian stay, it is also possible to review his studies of Plastic Arts (Université de Vincennes) and History of the Art (École du Louvre).

In the same way, his intellectual concerns and his extensive self-taught formation extended to multitude of subjects and disciplines (reading was one of his greatest passions), will lead him to create a work in endless evolution and transformation. In 1974 he was awarded the Güell Painting Foundation Award in Barcelona and in 1985 he was finalist at the 7th Cleveland International Drawing Biennale in England. At the end of the 80's he moves to Madrid, where he will create most of his works, working tirelessly, conscientiously and passionately. In 1997, he was appointed Academic Associate by the International Academy of Letters, Arts and Sciences of Verbano, Italy.

Main individual exhibitions

Museums

References
  • Soledad Villalba. "Gestos de Luis Fraile". Revista Cyan de Artes Plásticas. Madrid : Editorial Cyan, Nº16 1990
  • J.M.C. "Luis Fraile". ABC Newspaper. Madrid : April 16, 1987
  • Rosa Martínez de La Hidalga. El Punto de las Artes Weekly Magazine. Madrid : Editorial Arte y Patrimonio, 24–30 April 1987
  • Rosa Martínez de La Hidalga. "Luis Fraile, incógnitas y sueños". Tribuna Médica Weekly Magazine. Madrid : April 1988
  • Flavio Puviani. Dizionario Enciclopedico D'Arte Contemporanea. Ferrara : Casa Editrice Alba, 1995
  • Eva Cañas. "Luis Fraile, pintura expresionista dentro de un hacer figurativo". La Tribuna Newspaper. Albacete : Promecal, December 8, 1988
  • Javier Leon Herrera. "Luis Fraile, pintor". La Verdad Newspaper. Murcia : Grupo Correo, December 8th 1988
  • J. L. García de Angela. "Luis Fraile, atracción meditada". Casa & Jardín Magazine. Madrid : Ediciones Jardín, Nº 180, Year XIX
  • Rosa Martínez de La Hidalga. "Luis Fraile, toda una conjunción de elementos". El Punto de las Artes Weekly Magazine. Madrid : May 28th-4th 1989
  • Julia Sáez Angulo. "Luis Fraile, condensación de memoria y mirada". Revista Cyan de Artes Plásticas. Madrid : Editorial Cyan, Nº20 1991
  • Fernando Fernán-Gómez. Directorio de Arte España y Portugal. Madrid : Editorial Arteguía, 1998
  • María José Rodríguez. Revista mensual de las artes plásticas. Madrid : Correo del Arte, December 1989
  • Doris Martínez Ferrero. "Luis Fraile, el sincretismo de la obra bien pensada". Formas Plásticas Magazine. Madrid : M. R. Taylor Ediciones, Year V Nº35
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