The Artur Ramon saga goes back to the turn of the 20th century.
The first member of this family, Artur Ramon Vendrell (1876-1959), was born in Reus in the heart of a family dedicated to watchmaking and jewellery. He soon showed interest in the world of art objects and antiques and moved to Sitges, attracted by the climate of economic bonanza. The areas of activity of the house, known popularly as the “Saloncito Azul“, comprised the sale of furniture, paintings, porcelain, glass and tapestries, while he also organised exhibitions.
Some years before the Spanish Civil War, when the business would suffer a temporary stoppage due to the conflict, Artur Ramon Vendrell moved to Barcelona. In 1942 his son Artur Ramon Garriga opened the historical shop at the street calle de la Palla 25 which, at the time, was the key centre of the antique trade in Barcelona.
His successor, Artur Ramon Picas, joined the family business in the ’60s. He would introduce the concept of full gallery after visiting Paris and seeing the innovations taking place there during the revolutionary ’70s. In 1973 the first exhibition was mounted in the gallery, which was an individual exhibition of the works of Joaquim Sunyer.
More would follow, always with an emphasis on new creations of Catalan art, such as the sculptures of Subirachs, Tharrats and Tàpies, but also including works of Joaquín Chancho, Torres-García, Mariano Pidelaserra, Foix and Ponç. Since 1974, Artur Ramon Art also supports and promotes the work of the sculptor Josep Maria Subirachs (Barcelona, 1927-2014), to whom the studio at Calle Regomir is dedicated.
Towards the ’80s, although only for a few years, Artur Ramon and the antique dealer, Manuel Trallero, opened at calle Consejo de Ciento a new business parallel to the antique shop: the Galería Daedalus. In 1986, the premises at calle de la Palla were extended, giving rise to a new concept of shop and gallery, managed by Jordi Umbert for many years. They would select a series of themes and authors, to whom they would be loyal for years, such as Joan Mora and Pere and Josep Santilari. They would dedicate endeavours to advocate artists like Manolo Hugué, Xavier Nogués, Ramón Pichot, Xavier Gosé, Pere Torné Esquius, Ramon Rogent, Fortuny, Henry Moore, Eugenio Lucas Velázquez and Esteban Lisa. One of the house’s characteristics would be the appraisal of the graphic work of revered artists, such as Giovanni Battista Piranesi.
Artur and Mònica Ramon Navarro, son and daughter of Artur Ramon Picas, joined the family business in the mid-eighties, providing their innovative ideas and openness to new trends and new markets.
Between 2000 and 2007, the family business was extended with premises on the same street dedicated to contemporary art.
When Artur Ramon Navarro took the baton to manage the company, one of his principal milestones was to internationalise the family brand, making it present in two of the most prestigious European art fairs, Le Salon du Dessin of Paris (from 2009) and the TEFAF of Maastricht (from 2010, Artur Ramon Art would be the first Catalan exhibitor with only three exhibitors from Spain). The preparation of these fairs is a huge challenge for all the team. It involves the task of finding and selecting the best pieces, studying them and preparing them for exhibition.
Behind the work of Artur Ramon Art there is a sense, work that is developed tirelessly while having a very clear direction. Culture is promoted and every endeavour is made to stimulate both public and private collecting; ultimately to advance knowledge of art. Its work as a gallery is timeless and is complemented with the publishing of books and catalogues on works, always with exquisite execution, always with the charm of simplicity.