Biography

Martí Bofarull

Born: 1965, Molins de Rei (Barcelona, Spain)
Education: Became a student at Escola Massana (Barcelona) at age 16, specializing in painting, serigraphy, photography and printmaking.

Background & Training

Martí grew up under the influence of his grandmother, Carme Sala, who introduced him to painting techniques, composition and perspective. At 16 he joined Escola Massana, where he expanded his practice in various visual disciplines.

Teaching & Early Career

  • 1988–1994: Ran his own art workshop in Molins de Rei, teaching painting while participating in numerous juried art competitions—earning over 50 awards.

  • 1994: Won the XXXVI Young Painting Prize at Sala Parés, Barcelona.

  • 1995: Prizes in national painting contests and featured in touring exhibitions of award-winning works from the 14th Young Arts Show, including venues in Barcelona, Girona and Tarragona.

Exhibitions & Participations

1995–1999

  • Solo exhibitions at Galeria Terraferma (Lleida), Galeria San Vicente (València), Galeria Tuset (Barcelona), Galeria Andreu Picó (Palma).

2000–2004

  • Exhibitions at Galeria Aitor Urdangarín (Vitoria), Maika Sánchez (Valencia), Sala Braulio (Castelló), Galeria Artnau (Girona), Sala Braulio II (Castelló), Galeria Salduba (Saragossa), Galeria Echeberría (San Sebastián), Galeria Jaume III (Palma).

  • Participated in group shows such as «Figuració 00‑01» (Galeria Tuset), «Figuració ’02», and international fairs including Interart (València), Artexpo Barcelona.

2005–2008

  • Solo shows in Galeria Puchol (València), Sala Braulio (Castelló), Grup d’Art Escolà (several cities), Obra Gallery (Puerto Rico).

  • Exhibited at Fira DeArte (Madrid), Artexpo New York, and Art Decor (Atlanta).

2012–2013

  • “Trames urbanes” at Punt d’Art (Terrassa) and “Mirades urbanes” at Galeria Santiago Echeberría (Madrid).

  • Show at Art Club Gallery (Paris, Rue de Rivoli) – highlighted recent Manhattan and Paris-themed works.

  • Group show in Hong Kong at Gallery by Harbour City, later invited to AAF Affordable Art Fair (Hong Kong).

  • May 2013: Exhibited at Terraferma (Lleida) and Intel·lecte (Sabadell) following success in Lyon.

Awards & Achievements

  • Over 50 prizes in juried painting contests (regional, national, international).

  • First prizes in Plein Air and special technique categories at Tossa de Mar, Vic, Mollet del Vallès, among others.

  • Recognition in the Young Painting Prize at Sala Parés (1988, 1994), III Premi Agrupació Mútua (1997), and numerous «Fast Painting» competition awards across Catalonia.

Artistic Style & Themes

Martí Bofarull works in mixed media—paint, collage, wood—building layered urban landscapes of cities such as New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Barcelona and Paris. He uses architectural forms and textures to evoke the rhythm, light and emotional pulse of each metropolis. His work is part of a contemporary renewal of Catalan cityscape painting over the last two decades.