Born in 1919 in France to an Italian mother and a father from the Basque Country, Spain, Aïzpiri was an optimistic person since birth, a disposition reflected by the vibrant colors and the unrestrained brushstrokes characteristic of his works. His signature composition, always with a touch of friendliness, is his integration of Fauvism, Expressionism, and Cubism. In 1936, he started studying at L’École des Beaux-Arts, and his reputation was built as he held his first solo exhibition when he was 24. In 1946, he won Le Prix de la Jeune Peinture, and exhibited his works along with those of the most influential post-war painters, including Bernard Buffet and Paul Rebeyrolle. From the 1950s, famous galleries all over the world started to invite him for solo exhibitions. In 1996, an Aïzpiri museum (Nakata Museum of Art) opened in Japan, which is a rare honor for living artists. (Ravenel International Group)