About the Artist
Paul Guiramand
Paul Guiramand (1926 - 2007) was born in the town of Saint-Quentin, France. In the early thirties he moved to Paris and became a witness to the violence of war torn France. Two years later he began to study design at the Ville de Paris, then continued his studies at the L’Ecole des Beaux-Arts School, where Professor Maurice Brianchon was most influential to Guiramand in his career, as were Picasso and Matisse, both who were breaking artistic barriers in 1944 during the Liberation of Paris. In 1954 he began a series of lithographs at the Atelier of Fernand Mourlot, which was a popular gathering place for such noted artists of the epoch: Miro, Chagall, Esteve, Rebeyrolle, Manessier, Cueco, and Cottavoz. Many of these artists became Guiramand’s life long friends. Guiramand was also a set designer, most noted for his designs for the theater production by Federico Garcia Lorca at the Kantsallisteatteris in Helsinki that ran during the 1950’s. His use of bright colors and stark contrast show his proficiency with design as a primary influence on his style, in addition to great expressive emotional depth.
