Manuel Rivera

Manuel Rivera (Spanish, 1927–1995) was a painter and founding member of the El Paso group of artists. Born in Granada, at the age of 18, Rivera entered the Escuela Superior de Bellas Artes in Seville, where he later served as a professor. In 1951, he moved to Madrid, and created a number of murals and frescos for churches and public spaces throughout Spain. During this time, Rivera gradually turned away from figurative art toward a more abstract style. In 1957, he co-founded El Paso, along with Antonio Saura, Manolo Millares, Rafael Canogar, and Pablo Serrano, among others, all of whom were instrumental in defining the Spanish avant-garde of the Post-War era.