Josep Maria Subirachs I Sitjar

Place: Barcelona

Born: 1920

Death: 2019

Biography:

Josep Maria Subirachs i Sitjar (Catalan pronunciation: [ʒuˈzɛb məˈɾi.ə suβiˈɾaks]; 11 March 1920 – 7 April 2019) was a Spanish sculptor and painter of the late 20th century. His best known work is probably the Passion Facade of the basilica of the Sagrada Família in Barcelona. He was controversial, as he did not make any concessions to the style of the architect who designed the building, Antoni Gaudí. Subirachs' sculptural typography in Barcelona is featured in Eye magazine (No. 37, Vol. 10, Autumn 2000) along with the work of Joan Brossa. He was a member of the Reial Acadèmia Catalana de Belles Arts de Sant Jordi, Barcelona, Corresponding Member of the Hispanic Society of America of New York, Creu de Sant Jordi of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Medal of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Officier dans l'Ordre des Arts et Lettres of France, Personnalité de l'Année 1987, Paris, Member of the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, Madrid, Medalla de Honor, Real Academia de Bellas Artes de Santa Isabel, Hungria. The asteroid 134124 Subirachs, discovered in 2005, was named in his honour.