Rafael Griera Calderón

Landscape with castle oil on canvas painting

c.1995

Rafael Griera Calderón was born circumstantially in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in 1934. Later, he lived in Olot from 1942–60, where his father had a religious imagery workshop, he learned to perform all the techniques related to this art, and thanks to this, he developed a great artistic activity. Calderón also studied at the Escola de Belles Arts d'Olot for a short period. At the age of 12, he won his first prize at the Center Catòlic. At 18, he was part of the group Cràter d'Art, along with various artists who met regularly. Calderón was influenced by Anglada Camarassa, whom he met while doing military service in Palma de Mallorca, and by the painter Vermeer from Delft. He made trips throughout Spain to sell the saints in the workshop.