Born in Barcelona
Born in 1935 amid a country divided by the Civil War, Luis Navarro was taken by his mother to Tudela, Navarra, where he spent his childhood. At the age of seven, he crossed the Pyrenees with her to reunite with his father in France. Thus began a life marked by art, exile, and resilience.
Crosses the Pyrenees
At just seven years old, Luis Navarro crossed the Pyrenees with his mother to reunite with his father in France. This moment marked his first contact with the country that, years later, would become the epicenter of his artistic career.
Military Service
Luis Navarro completed his military service in Tarragona, Spain, at age 22. This stage marked his transition into adulthood before fully beginning his artistic life.
Dinner in Cannes
During a dinner in Cannes-la-Bocca, Navarro performed for Valéry Giscard d’Estaing—future President of France—and his brother.
Music in Cannes
As a guitarist in the port of Cannes, Luis Navarro began singing and playing in the most prestigious restaurants of the French Riviera. France became his new home.
Grand Prix Rubens
Luis Navarro received the Gold Medal of the Grand Prix Rubens. He was congratulated by notable figures such as Paul Gauguin’s grandson, Amadeo Modigliani’s daughter, and the president of Paris Critique.
Deputy in Montmartre
Appointed Deputy of the Republic of Montmartre, Navarro carried on the tradition of welcoming Spanish painters in Paris.
Arts and Letters
Luis Navarro was awarded the Bronze Medal for Arts, Sciences and Letters by the Académie française, in recognition of his cultural contribution.
He painted Life of Katia Granoff, a large-format oil painting (162 x 130 cm) in memory of the Parisian gallerist who had been his friend and promoter.
The Spirit of the Gypsy
He completed The Spirit of the Gypsy, a painting begun in 1965. An oil that encapsulates three decades of artistic evolution.
The Flamingos
In August 2005, he painted The Flamingos in Roses, Spain. A 130 x 195 cm oil painting that captures his dreamlike world and creative energy.
La Naissance Artificielle
Luis Navarro, with his partner Hélène, stands before the painting Travail et famille. A moment of pause and warmth in his studio.
In his Clichy studio, April 2004, he completed in dry brush his major work La Naissance Artificielle (130 x 162 cm).
What came to be known as “Navarresque Surrealism” is neither a school nor a repeatable technique. It is an entirely personal style, instantly recognizable, where the shape of the egg—symbol of origin, creation, and feminine mystery—replaces the human face. Bodies appear without eyes, mouths, or noses… and yet they express more than any academic portrait. In his canvases, Navarro strips away the superfluous to reveal the essential.
Each of his pieces—whether oil, pastel, watercolor, or sculpture—carries a visual force that leaves an impact. The faceless figures become a mirror for the viewer, allowing space for gesture, movement, and the essential. His backgrounds, crafted with obsessive precision, create an immersive and dramatic atmosphere. Colors emerge from shadow into light, with a technique worthy of the great masters.
that drives
his authenticity
Rather than follow traditional academic paths, Navarro chose life itself: he played guitar in upscale restaurants while secretly developing his painting.
His work is not the result of a trend, but of a vital need. That’s why his art never fades. That’s why it continues to move us. And that’s why, now more than ever, it deserves a place in the finest collections.
