The Gimferrer collection will be installed in Plaça Mayor de Banyoles

Jordi Gimferrer, art collector and critic from Banyoles, made public in December 2022 his decision to transfer a collection of 131 works of art to the City Council of his hometown. This donation has generated great interest in the media, both on a Catalan and international scale.

Initially, Gimferrer had considered donating the collection to a prominent national museum institution. However, discussions with the City Council made him reconsider this option. This initiative not only seeks to preserve art, but also to pay tribute to the more than a thousand people who were part of the history of the Gimferrer family through the company Les Saques, which was one of the most important in Banyoles during the 20th century.

The collection includes works by renowned artists such as Joan Miró, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Modest Urgell, Marià Fortuny, Ramon Casas, Isidre Nonell, Joaquim Mir, Arístides Maillol, Josep Llimona, Joaquim Sunyer, Antoni Tàpies, Modest Cuixart , Joan Ponç, Joan Josep Tharrats, Antonio Saura, Manuel Millares, Juana Francés, Joan Genovès, Eduardo Chillida, the Crónica Group, Joan Brossa, Albert Ràfols-Casamada, Miquel Barceló, Zush, Perejaume and Jaume Plensa . Among the outstanding works is Picasso's first creation made in 1900 at the famous Quatre Gats tavern in Barcelona, which is a portrait of the composer Morera, as well as Dalí's first surrealist drawing, dated 1927 and entitled 'Els Putrefactes '. In addition to the rich painting collection, a select representation of African and Oriental art is included.

Jordi Gimferrer. © Anna Galí

Initially, the Can Tarradas building had been considered as the location to house the collection. However, recently, Banyoles City Council has had to reconsider this alternative due to a technical report that has concluded that the building is not able to withstand a large influx of visitors. The works will now be moved to the Can Tomàs Teixidor and Cal Moliner buildings, located in the Plaça Major de Banyoles, a monumental space declared a cultural asset of national interest and an unbeatable location, as it receives thousands of visitors every year.

The new museum is expected to be inaugurated by the end of 2025. In addition, the opening of the museum will coincide with the publication of a book about Gimferrer's life and a documentary that is already being filmed, made by the production company Cactus .

The donation of the collection represents an opportunity for the city of Banyoles to consolidate itself as a cultural center of reference, preserving and exhibiting works that reflect the richness of Catalan artistic history.