Julio Lavallen
Born in Concordia, Entre Ríos, Argentina in 1957, he is a self-taught artist who moved to Buenos Aires at 22, where he worked alongside leading figures of Argentine art and became the face of the Alberto Elía gallery, forging a close friendship with Kenneth Kemble. In 1989 he relocated to Spain, exhibiting individually in Paris, Rome, New York, London, and Madrid. Returning to Buenos Aires in 1999, he founded Sociedad Manual, opened an art workshop, and relaunched his gallery as Espacio Lavallén. In 2003, together with his wife, actress María Morales Miy, he also opened Almacén Secreto, a regional cuisine restaurant.