Roberto Orallo
Roberto Orallo Pérez was born in Santander (Spain) on March 8, 1947. Coming from a republican family, both his grandfather and his father were a Republican. As much as his father had a relationship with the world of painting. From a young age, he worked as a primary school teacher and aroused his interest in painting and, although he later began studying students in scientific and technical careers, their artistic vocation was always very clear.
Following the advice of one of his painting teachers, he traveled to Valencia to study Fine Arts, where he discovered the light and color of the Mediterranean. Roberto Orallo's career reflected always a humanist conception, whether in plasticity of a more surrealist nature, Spanish pop from the 60s/70s, cubist or expressionist. The continuous exploration of pictorial trends led him to create his own personality, recognizable in all his works.
Formed in 1972, his first exhibitions took place in Valencia. In 1975 he held one of the most significant exhibitions of this time, in the Sala Sul de Santander, directed by Manuel Arce and a true reference of the Cantabrian avant-garde. The success obtained in the Sala Sul opened the It's doors to many other national galleries and even European, reaching an important international projection.
Roberto Orallo's work is completed with several portraits and wall works. Within the muralist technique, we must highlight the Rhine tower, a trademark of Santander de El Sardinero beach, made by him with post-cubist inspirations and tubular lines, at the age of 41. also the monumental vaults and murals he painted in the Soñanes Palace; 520 square meters that are an allegory to the four elements: earth, water, air and fire. 'Amanecer', a tribute to the five fishermen from the Santoña confraternity who died in a shipwreck in 2004, and the mural at the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital are other notable works within this technique .
Reconciling an artistic career with teaching work. He was a professor at IES Santa Clara de Santander between 1978 and 2008, having created a drawing, sculpture and ceramics workshop in 1980.
In his honor, the name of the School of Art is no. 1 was changed to Escola de Arte Roberto Orallo da Cantabria, having served as director of the first public school of plastic arts and design in Cantabria since 2008.
