Antoni Tàpies i Puig was born in Barcelona on December 13, 1923, and died in the same city on February 6, 2012.

Following a serious illness, during which he had already begun drawing, he studied law between 1943 and 1946 and briefly attended Nolasc Valls’ academy. In 1948, he was a co-founder of the group Dau al Set, with which he actively collaborated. He participated in the first Salons d’Octubre, in innovative exhibitions such as Cobalto 49, and in the VII Salón de los Once in Madrid. In 1950, he held his first solo exhibition at Galeries Laietanes and, having received a grant from the French Institute, traveled to Paris, from where he managed to exhibit at the Carnegie International in Pittsburgh. He was selected to represent Spain at the Venice Biennale, in which he participated repeatedly.

From 1953 onwards, he began to gain increasing international recognition, with exhibitions in Chicago, Madrid, and New York, promoted by the art dealer Martha Jackson. He came into contact with Michel Tapié and exhibited frequently at the Stadler Gallery in Paris. He received major awards and recognitions, such as the first Carnegie Prize (1958), and exhibited extensively across Europe and America. From 1967, he collaborated with the dealer Aimé Maeght and held prominent exhibitions in Paris, New York, and at the Fondation Maeght. During this period, he experimented with new techniques, such as tapestry.

His work began with a surrealist figurativism linked to Dau al Set and evolved toward Art Informel, with a strong emphasis on matter, the use of mixed media, and an aesthetic of ugliness that placed him among the leading figures of the movement. He also developed an intense activity in set design and literary collaboration, especially with Joan Brossa, as well as a notable output in graphic arts and bibliophile editions.

In the 1970s, he incorporated explicit political references, reinforcing his image as a committed artist, and developed a significant body of poster work. At the same time, he began producing sculptures that culminated in monumental works. His career was recognized with numerous awards, academic distinctions, and honorary titles. In 1990, the Fundació Antoni Tàpies was inaugurated in Barcelona, dedicated to the study of contemporary art.