Since early childhood, Andres Garcia Ibanez knew that he would be a great artist; he could paint before he could take his first steps. Ibanez learned to paint from his grandfather, who was called the “Leonardo da Vinci” of his village. At 13, Ibanez expanded on his grandfather’s teachings by copying the paintings of masters like Greco, Velazquez, and Rembrandt. Young Ibanez was so dedicated to this project that by 16 he had studied and copied every work by Goya. Equipped with an extensive knowledge of the masters and their work, the 17-year-old Ibanez cultivated a personal style for his own portrait work. In 1989, Ibanez began to exhibit his paintings across Spain and won the prestigious “Jovenes Pintores Andaluces” (Young Andalusian Painters) contest. Ibanez has since been involved in over 20 exhibitions in his native Spain as well as over 30 one-man shows across Europe.

Ibanez’s prodigious talent has caught the attention of many collectors and art lovers, including respected religious establishments. Ibanez has completed paintings for St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and the Cathedral of San Salvador, and The Republic of El Salvador even commissioned a painting called “The Salvation of the World,” which will span 1,000 square meters.