Joaquín Torres-García, was a Spanish Uruguayan painter, theorist, teacher and author, who spent most of his adult life in Spain. Later, traveled and lived in the United States, Italy, France, and Uruguay. One of the most influential artists of the 20th century, he is known for founding influential schools and groups, including the Escola de Decoració in Barcelona; Cercle et Carré in Paris—the first European abstract-art group, which brought together artists such as Piet Mondrian and Wassily Kandinsky; the Grupo de Arte Constructivo in Madrid; and the Taller Torres-García in Montevideo.