Xabier Soubelet
expressionist painter
from the Basque Country
His oil and acrylic paintings, characterized by gestures infused with light and vibrant colors, often evoke the etxe – the Basque house – at the heart of the Baztan and Labourd landscapes, an expression of his cultural identity.
Xabier Soubelet initially painted in an impressionist style. His artistic influences include Cézanne, Matisse, and fauvism, which inspired him to use vivid colors and radiant light.
Lizarraldea – Loquiz, figurative landscape
In search of light, Elizondo, Garazi inspiration
Uhaina, the wave
His early figurative landscapes (1976–2015) gave way to an abstract period (2016–2019), marked by lyrical touches and a constant exploration of color and light.
From abstract expressionism to abstrootism
Port abstrootism
Urrundik (back in the Basque Country)
Artist, writer,
songwriter…
Xabier Soubelet, born on May 20, 1953, in Ciboure in the Basque Country, is an artist, writer, and songwriter. The son of Robert Soubelet and Maite Laskibar, he grew up between Saint-Jean-de-Luz and the Baztan valley, the homeland of his maternal family.
From a young age, he expressed his creativity through numerous poems and songs. At the age of 22, he discovered painting thanks to his friendship with the painter José Mari Apezetxea, who became his mentor. He then joined the Euskal Artistak group from the Northern Basque Country and the Baztan artistic collective, working alongside Ana Mari Marin, Kepa Arizmendi, the Gipuzkoan painters Zumeta and Rezola, and the Biscayan painters Ismael Fidalgo and Marcelino Bañales. He also collaborated with Jesus Montes Iribarren, an expressionist painter based in the Baztan valley.
Today, Xabier Soubelet splits his time between his workshop in Arizkun, in the Baztan valley, and Saint-Jean-de-Luz.
His career, marked by a rich body of work that includes paintings, books in the Basque language, novels, poetry collections, songs, and musical poems, reflects his artistic versatility and deep connection to the Basque Country.
with Joxe Mari Apezetxea
with Zumeta and Joxe Mari Apezetxea
with Ana Mari Marin
with Ismael Fidalgo
Arizkun
workshop & permanent exhibition
Sasternea, a 16th-century residence built by the Goyenetche family from the Iturraldea Palace in Arizkun, hosts:
- on the mezzanine, Xabier’s workshop, where many of his works have been created,
- on the ground floor, recent works (2016-2023) in an abstract and colorful style,
- on the second floor, a retrospective of his 50 years of painting, featuring more figurative canvases.
It is also the headquarters of Xubiltz, an association dedicated to promoting Basque art, publishing literary and artistic works, and organizing concerts by his group X. Xubelet eta Xamanat.
Open in summer from Thursday to Sunday, 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM and 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
During the rest of the year, it is advised to contact the painter beforehand by email or phone.
Contact me
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I will answer you within 48 hours.