Jesus Fuertes

Jesus Fuertes (; 14 April 1938 – 18 June 2006) was a Cubist painter, who was initiated into the world of art by Salvador Dalí, and was described as a "true genius" by Pablo Picasso. Fuertes often chose women and cats as his subject matter. Several of his well-known works involve the use of shades of blue, which earned him the nickname "Painter of Blue".

Early life Fuertes was born in Madrid, Spain Fuertes' first exhibition was at the age of 15 at the Young European Painters Exhibition in Berlin, which awarded him the second place prize. However, Fuertes was receptive to other trends, movements, and quests, which attracted the attention of Pablo Picasso. The two developed an assiduous relationship, thus permitting Fuertes to research the roots of Cubism. This led him to paint his first neo-cubist canvas.

In 1957, he exhibited with Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, Antoni Tàpies, and Pablo Picasso at the Bruxelles International Expo, Spanish Pavilion.

In 1996, Fuertes established a studio in Miami, Florida, where he lived until his death in June 2006, at the age of 68.

Awards 1953 Second place prize at the Young European Painters Exposition in Berlin

1953 - Young European Painters International Show, Berlin, Germany 1954 - Saya Gallery, Lille, France 1955 - Brachot Gallery, Bruxelles, Belgium 1956 - New Tendencies, Le Petite Gallery, Paris, France 1957 - Bateauivre Gallerie, Paris, France, with Bernard Buffet 1958 - Bruxelles International Expo, Spanish Pavilion, Exhibited with Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, Antoni Tàpies and Pablo Picasso 1959 - Gallery at the Hotel Saint Regis, New York 1960 - Magnus Gallery, Perpignan, France 1961 - Escrigit Gallery, Amberes, Belgium 1962 - Euroart Gallery, Paris, France 1964 - Simon Swartz Gallery, Switzerland 1965 - Circo Gallery, Rome, Italy, with notable constructivists and Italian surrealists Baltazar Baltrus, Umberto Boccioni, De Chirico and Carlo Carra 1966 - Luigi Amasso Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts 1967 - Grévin Museum, Paris, France, exhibition presented by Salvador Dalí 1968 - Massey Museum, Tarbes, France with Salvador Dalí, René Magritte, Francis Picabia and others 1968 – San Antonio International Art Exhibition, San Antonio, Texas 1969 - Knokke Casino, Belgium, group exhibition with surrealists Magritte, Del Vaux, Labisse, Man Ray, Max Ernst and others 1972 - Katya Granoff Gallery, Paris, France 1974 - Naharro Gallery, Zaragoza, Spain 1976 - Sala Galderes, Barcelona, Spain 1977 - Luigi Amasso Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts 1980 – São Paulo Museum of Modern Art, São Paulo, Brazil 1981 - Museum of Belo Horizonte, Brazil 1984 - Spanish Embassy in Brasília, Brazil 1985 - Embassy Gallery, Miami, Florida 1987 - Halos Gallery, Marseille, France 1988 - Museum of Modern Art in Amsterdam, Netherlands 1989 - Clicler Gallery, Toronto, Canada 1990 - Gallery of the Hotel El Camino Real, Mexico City, Mexico 1991 - Art Miami, Miami, Florida 1992 - South Western Gallery, Miami, Florida 1993 - Osaka Gallery, Tokyo, Japan 1994 - Vanidades Gallery, Miami, Florida 1995 - Art Miami, Miami, Florida 2000 – Artelenium Gallery: Barcelona, Spain, with Miró and Picasso 2000 - New York, exhibition sponsored by Plácido Domingo and Mayor Giuliani 2003 – Reina Sofia Museum, Madrid, Spain, "Quijote in Miami" painting