Who We Are
We are mother and daughter, two painters who share the magic of creating through art. We are delighted to share with you our artwork, our inspiration, and every piece born from the passion that unites us.
HAIZEA ZELAIA ARRATIBEL
Born on January 5, 1994, in Donostia–San Sebastián, Haizea Zelaia Arratibel is a painter whose artistic path began almost as soon as she could hold a pencil. Growing up surrounded by creativity and guided by her mother, Arantxa Arratibel, she developed an exceptional passion for drawing and painting from an early age.
At just five years old, Haizea started participating in art competitions and quickly gained recognition for her remarkable talent. Throughout her childhood and adolescence, she accumulated an impressive record of 44 awards, many of them earned while competing against adult artists.
Her artistic development was marked by a series of prestigious distinctions in open-air painting competitions across the Basque Country. Among her most notable achievements are multiple first prizes in San Sebastián, Lasarte-Oria, Beasain, Astigarraga, and Chillida Leku, as well as an award presented by the internationally acclaimed sculptor Eduardo Chillida.
One of the defining moments of her early career came in 2005 when she painted live on the Basque television program Horrelakoa da Bizitza on E.T.B., demonstrating both her technical skill and artistic confidence at a young age.
Haizea’s work is deeply rooted in Surrealism. Her paintings explore the realms of imagination and dreams through symbolic compositions that transcend everyday reality. Her artistic style combines creativity, sensitivity, and a strong expressive force, resulting in works that invite reflection and personal interpretation.
Today, Haizea continues to develop her artistic practice while sharing a unique creative journey with her mother. Together, they represent two generations of artists united by a common passion for painting, craftsmanship, and artistic expression, creating works that reflect both tradition and individuality.
ARANTXA ARRATIBEL
Arantxa Arratibel (born August 12, 1958, in Donostia–San Sebastián) is a professional Basque painter, sculptor, and painting instructor. She is widely recognized within the artistic community of Gipuzkoa for her technical versatility, her work inspired by Basque mythology, and for founding her own teaching center, Arratibel Studio.
Artistic Journey and Style
Arantxa began her artistic training at the age of ten at the Gipuzkoa Artistic Association under the guidance of Jesús Gallego and later continued her studies with Rodrigo Gordo. Although she received formal instruction early on, she considers herself largely self-taught, having developed an independent artistic language and personal style throughout her career.
Her work encompasses a wide variety of subjects and techniques, including commissioned portraits, urban landscapes of San Sebastián, figurative painting, and mixed-media creations. As both an artist and artisan, she is particularly drawn to Basque mythology, incorporating traditional symbols such as the eguzkilore (sun flower) and ancestral motifs into relief sculptures crafted from natural materials including wood and jute.
Achievements and Recognition
Throughout her career, Arantxa has received numerous awards in open-air painting competitions, including First Prize in Loiola (2000), Urnieta (2000), and Pasaia (2001).
In 2015, she was honored at the San Telmo Museum in San Sebastián by the renowned artistic institution Tamayo in recognition of her contribution to the local art scene.
Beyond her artistic achievements, Arantxa has actively participated in charitable initiatives, donating artwork and creating live paintings in support of the NGO Ethiopia Utopia.
Teaching and Professional Activity
In 1987, she founded Arratibel Studio in the Egia district of San Sebastián. The studio serves as a permanent exhibition space for her work, a center for commissioned projects, and a painting school dedicated to nurturing new artistic talent.