BARCELONA.- Barcelona painter Joan Abelló, 85, has passed away, just one day before he would have turned 86 years old, reported the Abelló Museum. The funeral will take place this Saturday at the Sant Vicenç church in Mollet at noon. The artist had donated his art collection and art to the city of Mollet del Vallés (Barcelona). Joan Abelló i Prat was born in Mollet del Vallès in 1922 and took his first steps in the world of painting at an early age. Of his training period, we should mention the teaching he received from Pere Pruna and Carles Pellicer, and the influence of Joaquim Mir who he became acquainted with during his stays in Mollet.

Just like many 20th century artists, Abelló stayed in London, Belgium, the Isle of Man, Paris… In the sixties he returned to Mollet – where he once again became interested in the Vallès and Mediterranean landscapes –, but he didn’t abandon long journeys throughout Europe, Africa, the Ivory Coast, Morocco or Brazil.

In parallel with his artistic side, Abelló developed a passion for collecting, which he began undoubtedly influenced by the Pellicer house and Miracle’s studio, where he learnt restoration, and also by his visits to Manolo Hugué’s studio. Little by little, Joan Abelló increased his collection, which, in the future, was to become the embryo of the museum.

In 1996, he donated his art collection to the Mollet del Vallès Town Council and the Joan Abelló Municipal Foundation was created, inaugurating the Museum in the month of March, 1999.