Early Life and Influences Born: Barcelona, Spain (1923) Died: 2012 Son of a lawyer and Catalan nationalist, Josep Tàpies i Mestre. Grew up in an environment exposed to Catalan public life and republicanism. First introduced to contemporary art through the magazine *d’ací i d’allà* at age 17. Suffered a near-fatal heart attack at 17 due to tuberculosis, spending two years convalescing in the mountains where he pursued his interest in art. Studied law for three years before dedicating himself solely to painting from 1943 onwards. Early influences included Paul Klee and Joan Mir…