List of people from Catalonia

This is a list of notable people from Catalonia.

Artists

Ferrer Bassa, Catalan Gothic master and miniaturist
Arnau Bassa, altarpiece master and son of the previous
Jacint Rigau i Ros, portrait artist
Josep Tapiró i Baró, watercolour painter and fundamental member of Orientalism
Marià Fortuny i Marsal, painter
Josep Masriera, painter, goldsmith, and businessman
Étienne Terrus, painter considered one of the precursors of fauvisme
Eliseu Meifrèn, impressionist painter
Aristide Maillol, sculptor and painter
Santiago Rusiñol, painter, poet and playwright
Ramon Casas i Carbó, artist and painter
Ramon Pichot, painter
Joaquin Mir Trinxet, painter
Josefa Texidor i Torres, painter
Juli González i Pellicer, sculptor and painter
Josep Clarà, sculptor
Pau Gargallo i Catalán, sculptor and painter
Adelaida Ferré Gomis, lace-maker, folklorist, and teacher
Joan Miró, surrealist artist
Lola Anglada, illustrator and writer
Charlie Rivel, clown
Àngel Planells, surrealist painter
Salvador Dalí, surrealist artist
Marti Montserrat Guillemat, musician
Ceferí Olivé i Cabré, painter
Remedios Varo, surrealist painter
Angeles Santos Torroella, surrealist painter
Antoni Clavé, painter, printmaker, sculptor, stage designer and costume designer
Joan-Josep Tharrats, abstract artist and member of Dau al Set
Joan Brossa, poet, playwright, graphic designer and visual artist
Joan Colom, photographer
Manuel Carnicer i Fajó, hyperrealist colour pencil artist
Albert Ràfols-Casamada, artist
Antoni Tàpies, surrealist painter and member of Dau al Set
Xavier Valls, painter
Modest Cuixart, painter and member of Dau al Set
Marcel Martí, sculptor
Joan Ponç, painter and member of Dau al Set
Josep Guinovart, abstract expressionist painter
Josep Maria Subirachs, sculptor and painter
Josep Ponsatí, sculptor
Jordi Bonet, painter, ceramist, muralist and sculptor
Antoni Pitxot, surrealist painter
Silvia Torras, informalist painter
Xavier Miserachs, photographer
Vicenç Caraltó, painter, draftsman and engraver
Fina Rifà, illustrator
Isabel Steva i Hernández, "Colita", photographer
Josep Royo, contemporary artist
Glòria Muñoz, painter
Anna Manel·la, sculptor
Jaume Plensa, sculptor
Pep Duran, contemporary artist
Enric Bug, comic book artist and industrial designer
Carlos Grangel, character designer
Neil Harbisson, artist, founder of the Cyborg Foundation
Moon Ribas, choreographer, dancer, cyborg activist, founder of the Cyborg Foundation
Laura Vila Kremer, performance artist and intersex rights activist

Architects and Urban Planners

Ildefons Cerdà i Sunyer, urban planner who designed the 19th-century "extension" of Barcelona called the Eixample
Lluís Domènech i Montaner, modernist architect and politician, designed the Palau de la Música Catalana
Antoni Gaudí, modernist architect, designed the Catholic church of the Sagrada Família in Barcelona
Josep Puig i Cadafalch, architect, designed the urban gothic palace Casa Amatller
Cebrià de Montoliu i de Togores, town planner, architect, and social reformer
Josep Maria Jujol i Gibert, architect and designer; worked with Antoni Gaudí on many of his most famous works
Isidre Puig i Boada, architect
Carles Buïgas i Sans, architect, engineer, inventor and author; designed the Magic Fountain in Montjuïc, Barcelona
Josep Lluís Sert i López, architect, co-founder of the GATCPAC group, professor at Harvard
Josep Antoni Coderch, architect recognized as one of the most important post-World War II European architects
Antoni Bonet i Castellana, architect and urban planner
Alfons Milà i Sagnier, architect
Frederic de Correa i Ruiz, architect
Oriol Bohigas i Guardiola, architect and urban planner
Lluís Nadal i Oller, architect
Josep Emili Donato i Folch, architect
Lluís Cantallops Valeri, architect
Joan Margarit, architect
Ricardo Bofill i Leví, architect
Carme Pigem Barceló, architect and member of the Pritzker Prize-winning architectural firm RCR Arquitectes
Xavier Vilalta, architect

Businesspeople

Facundo Bacardí, founder of Bacardi rum
Joseph Oller, founder of Moulin Rouge cabaret
Andrés Brugal Montaner, founder of Brugal & Co. rum
Enric Bernat, founder of Chupa Chups candy
Eusebi Güell, industrial entrepreneur and patronage
John Casablancas, founder of Elite Model Management

Cinema and Theater

Fructuós Gelabert, inventor, screenwriter, film director
Asunción Balaguer, actress
Rosa Maria Sardà, actress and comedian
Albert Boadella, playwright, director, actor, political activist, and founder of Els Joglars
Ventura Pons, film director
Bigas Luna, award-winning filmmaker
Vicky Peña, actress
Assumpta Serna, actress
Francesc Orella, actor
Emma Vilarasau, actress
Isabel Coixet, film director
Eduard Fernandez, actor
Jordi Sánchez, actor, comedian, well-known thanks to his leading roles in the popular sitcoms, Plats Bruts and La que se Avecina
Sergi López, actor, César's best actor winner in 2000
Andreu Buenafuente, comedian, television host and founder of the television production company, El Terrat
Lydia Zimmermann, filmmaker
Jaume Balagueró, film director behind REC zombie horror films
Jordi Mollà, actor, appeared in the Hollywood blockbusters Colombiana and Riddick
Ariadna Gil, actress
Joel Joan, actor, comedian, lead actor in the popular sitcom, Plats Bruts, filmmaker, founder of the television production company Kràmpack and former president of the Academy of Catalan Cinema
Silvia Abril, actress, comedian and television host
David Selvas, actor
Laia Costa, actress
Laia Marull, actress
Jaume Collet-Serra, filmmaker known for directing the horror remake House of Wax, The Shallows and the memorable action-thrillers Unknown, Non-Stop, Run All Night and The Commuter
Ingrid Rubio, actress
Daniel Brühl, actor, born in Barcelona and raised in Germany
Claudia Bassols, actress
Leticia Dolera, actress
Quim Gutiérrez, actor
Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey, actress, appeared in the Hollywood blockbusters Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
Carlos Cuevas, actor
David Solans, actor

Economists

Andreu Mas-Colell, economist
Xavier Sala i Martin, economist
Pol Antràs, economist
Jordi Galí, economist

Writers and poets

Ramon Llull, philosopher, theologist, mystic, missionary, narrator, poet, logician and professor
Ramon Muntaner, soldier and writer of the 14th century
Joanot Martorell, knight and writer of the 15th century
Jaime Balmes, priest, philosopher and political writer
Àngel Guimerà,, writer
Jacint Verdaguer, poet
Narcís Oller, writer
Joan Maragall, writer and poet
Josep Carner, poet
Gaziel, journalist, writer and publisher
Carles Riba, poet
Josep Vicenç Foix, poet, essayist and writer
Josep Pla, writer
Joan Oliver i Sallarès, pseudonym Pere Quart, poet, playwright, translator, narrator, and journalist
Mercè Rodoreda, writer, known for novel The Time of the Doves
Miquel Martí i Pol, writer and poet
Pere Calders, writer
Josep Ferrater i Mora, philosopher, essayist and writer
Joan Sales, writer, poet, translator and editor
Salvador Espriu, writer and poet
Joan Vinyoli, poet
Manuel de Pedrolo, writer
Montserrat Abelló i Soler, poet and translator
Joan Brossa, poet, playwright, plastic artist and graphic designer
Gabriel Ferrater, poet, translator and scholar of linguistics
Maria Àngels Anglada, poet and novelist
Quima Jaume i Carbo, poet
Olga Xirinacs Díaz, writer and pianist
Lluís Solà i Sala, poet, playwright and translator
Montserrat Roig, writer, journalist, feminist
Quim Monzó, writer
Maria Mercè Marçal, poet, writer and translator
Sergi Pàmies, writer, translator, journalist
Joan Carreras i Goicoechea, journalist, screenwriter and writer
Anna Dodas i Noguer, poet
Màrius Serra, writer, journalist, translator
Albert Sánchez Piñol, writer, novelist and author of the international best-seller Victus: Barcelona 1714
Carla Herrero, writer, blogger

Military

Abu-l-Hasan Ali ibn Ruburtayr, Muslim Catalan mercenary commander
Nunó Sanç I, Catalan nobleman and military leader
Berenguer de Palou II, bishop of Barcelona and led different crusades
Ramon Muntaner, commander and chronicler of the Catalan Company
Francesc de Tamarit i de Rifà, military leader during the Battle of Montjuïc (1641)
Rafael Casanova i Comes, Coronela leader during the Siege of Barcelona (1713–14)
Josep Moragues i Mas, Catalan general during the War of Spanish Succession
Manuel d'Amat i de Junyent, military officer and colonial administrator
Gaspar de Portolà, Spanish officer and explorer, first Governor of the Californias
Pere Fages i Beleta, Spanish explorer, fifth Governor of the Californias
Francisco Milans del Bosch, Spanish general.
Llarg de Copons, Carlist warlord
Ramón Cabrera y Griñó, Carlist general from Tortosa
Joan Prim i Prats, Spanish general and statesman
Josep Masgoret i Marcó, Carlist warlord
Joseph Joffre, French general, born in Ribesaltes
Domènec Batet, Spanish Army general
Ramon Vila Capdevila, anarchist and guerilla fighter
Ramon Mercader, soviet spy, murderer of Leon Trotsky
Sabaté brothers, three Maquis guerrillas of the Francoist post-Civil War period

Musicians and Singers

Guerau de Cabrera, troubadour
Jofre de Foixà, troubadour, Benedictine and abbot of San Giovanni degli Eremiti in Palermo
Ferran Sor, composer
Josep Maria Moliné, composer
Felip Pedrell, composer, guitarist and musicologist
Isaac Albéniz, pianist and composer
Enric Morera i Viura, musician and composer
Enric Granados, musician
Pau Casals, cellist
Miguel Llobet, composer and guitarist
Maria Gay, mezzo-soprano
Enric Roig i Masriera, violinist, poet and musicologist
Frederic Mompou, composer
Conchita Supervía, soprano
Robert Gerhard, composer
Xavier Cugat, musician
Joan Magrané Figuera, composer
Xavier Montsalvatge, composer and music critic
Victòria dels Àngels, soprano
Alicia de Larrocha, pianist
Tete Montoliu, jazz pianist
Montserrat Caballé, soprano
Jaume Aragall, tenor
Laura Almerich, classical guitarist
Jordi Savall, musician
Núria Feliu, singer and actress
Joan Manuel Serrat, singer and author
Josep Carreras, tenor
Lluís Llach, singer and composer
Pau Riba, singer and composer
Jaume Sisa, singer-songwriter
Pascal Comelade, musician
Carles Sabater, singer and actor
Joan Chamorro, jazz musician, teacher, big band leader
Adrià Puntí, musician and singer-songwriter
Sergio Dalma, singer
Gerard Quintana, singer
Damaris Gelabert, singer
Mónica Naranjo, singer
Guillermo Scott Herren, producer
Montse Cortés, flamenco singer
Beth, singer
Sílvia Pérez Cruz, singer, musician
Álvaro Soler, singer-songwriter
Rosalía, singer-songwriter, musician
Andrea Motis, jazz musician, singer
Bad Gyal, singer-songwriter, musician
Aitana, singer

Fashion

Fashion Designers

Custo Dalmau, fashion designer, founder of Custo Barcelona

Fashion Models

Politicians and Leaders

Before the 19th Century

Belló I of Carcassonne, founder of the Bellonid Dynasty known as the cradle of the Catalan lords and people
Wilfred I the Hairy, 12th count of Barcelona, founder of the House of Barcelona
Jaume I the Conqueror, 8th king of Aragon and 26th count of Barcelona
Pere III the Great, 9th king of Aragon and 27th count of Barcelona
Martí I the Humane, 15th king of Aragon and last monarch of the House of Barcelona
Martí I the Younger, king of Sicily dead at 32–35 in Cagliari
Bernat d'Oms i Santa Pau, governor of Elna, killed and beheaded by the troops of Louis XI
Pau Claris i Casademunt, lawyer, 94th President of the Generalitat de Catalunya and leader at the Catalan Revolt
Rafael Casanova i Comes, lawyer and Conseller en Cap of the Consell de Cent of Barcelona
Josep Moragues i Mas, Catalan patriot, led the insurgence against the Bourbonic troops after the War of the Spanish Succession until he was executed, decapitated, butchered and his head placed for 12 years hanging in the main entrance to Barcelona
Gaspar de Portolà i Rovira, soldier, governor of Baja California and Alta California, explorer and founder of San Diego and Monterey
Pere Fages i Beleta, soldier, explorer; second Spanish military Governor of New California, 1770–1774; Governor of the Californias, 1782-1791

Modern Politicians

Joan Prim i Prats, general and statesman, Captain-General of Puerto Rico, commander of the Spanish Army in Mexico and in Morocco, and president of the Spanish Council
Estanislao Figueras, first president of the First Spanish Republic
Francesc Pi i Margall, second president of the First Spanish Republic
Valentí Almirall, politician, author of Lo catalanisme, founder of the first daily periodical in the Catalan language, El diari català
Francesc Macià,, soldier, politician and 122nd President of the Generalitat de Catalunya
Josep Irla, politician, 124th President of the Generalitat de Catalunya
Francesc Cambó, politician
Enric Prat de la Riba, politician
Lluís Companys, politician, 123rd President of the Generalitat de Catalunya
Andreu Nin, heterodox communist politician
Federica Montseny, anarchist politician
José Figueres Ferrer, politician, President of Costa Rica in three occasions
Jordi Pujol, politician, 126th President of the Generalitat de Catalunya
Pasqual Maragall, politician, 127th President of the Generalitat de Catalunya
Jaime Nebot, politician, current mayor of Guayaquil, Ecuador
Josep Borrell, former President of the European Parliament
Artur Mas, politician and 129th President of the Generalitat de Catalunya
Carles Puigdemont i Casamajó, politician, 130th President of the Generalitat de Catalunya
Roger Albinyana i Saigí, Liberal politician
Salvador Illa, former Minister of Health of Spain, current Secretary for Organization of the Socialists' Party of Catalonia
Meritxell Batet, currently serving as President of the Congress of Deputies
Jaume Collboni, Deputy Mayor of Barcelona
Daniel Sirera, chairman of the People's Party
Amadeu Altafaj, journalist and present European Commission Vice President spokesman
Gabriel Boric, President of Chile

Sportspeople

Alpinism, Trail Running and Ski

Núria Picas, sky runner and trail runner
Kílian Jornet Burgada, long-distance runner and ski mountaineer
Jordi Font, snowboarder
Laura Orgué, cross country skier

Athletics

Reyes Estévez, former 1500m runner
Javier García, former Pole Vaulter, Olympic bronze medallist
Natalia Rodríguez, 1500m runner

Basketball

Ignacio "Nacho" Solozabal, former player for Barça
Jordi Villacampa, former player and president from Joventut Badalona
Rafael Jofresa, former player from Joventut Badalona, Barça and CB Girona
Roger Grimau, former player from Joventut Badalona
Pau Gasol, ACB basketball player, formerly for Barça and currently in the NBA for the San Antonio Spurs
Raúl López, formerly for Joventut Badalona, NBA basketball player for Utah Jazz
Juan Carlos Navarro, NBA basketball player for Memphis Grizzlies and ACB for Barça
Marc Gasol, ACB basketball player for Barça and CB Girona and NBA for the Memphis Grizzlies; younger brother of Pau Gasol
Pau Ribas, former player from Joventut Badalona, currently as playmaker for Barça
Ricky Rubio, former player from Joventut Badalona; now with the Utah Jazz in the NBA
Pierre Oriola, Spanish National Team Player currently playing for Barça
Álex Mumbrú, former Real Madrid and Spanish National Team Player, current captain of Bilbao Basket
Xavi Pascual, former Barça coach, winner of 2010 Euroleague and current coach of Panathinaikos

Cycling

David de la Cruz, active
Melcior Mauri, Vuelta a España winner
Maribel Moreno
José Pesarrodona, Vuelta a España winner
Miguel Poblet
Joaquim Rodríguez
Marc Soler, active

Football

Jordi Alba, Spanish international, 2012 European Championship winner
Marc Bartra, Spanish international
Estanislau Basora, former Spanish international
Sergio Busquets, Spanish international, 2010 World Cup winner & 2012 European Championship winner
Joan Capdevila, former Spanish international, 2010 World Cup winner & 2008 European Championship winner
Gerard Deulofeu, Spanish international
Cesc Fàbregas, Spanish international, 2010 World Cup winner, 2008 & 2012 European Championship winner
Andreu Fontàs, Spanish international
Sergio García, Spanish international, 2008 European Championship winner
Pep Guardiola, former Spanish international, former manager of Barcelona and Bayern Munich and currently of Manchester City
Roberto Martínez, former manager of Everton and currently of Belgium
Fernando Navarro, former Spanish international, 2008 European Championship winner
Gerard Piqué, Spanish international, 2010 World Cup winner & 2012 European Championship winner
Carles Puyol, former Spanish international, 2010 World Cup winner & 2008 European Championship winner
Antoni Ramallets, former Spanish international
Carles Rexach, former Spanish international, former manager of Barcelona
Sergi Roberto, Spanish international
Josep Samitier, former Spanish international
Raúl Tamudo, former Spanish international
Víctor Valdés, former Spanish international, 2010 World Cup winner & 2012 European Championship winner
Tito Vilanova, former manager of Barcelona
Xavi Hernández, former Spanish international, 2010 World Cup winner, 2008 & 2012 European Championship winner
Ricardo Zamora, former Spanish international
Michał Żuk, Polish footballer, born in Catalonia
Sercan Sararer
Alexia Putellas, two time Ballon d'or winner and Barcelona captain
Aitana Bonmatí, Spanish international, multiple Ballon d'Or winner; 2023 Women's World Cup winner

Motor Racing

Alfonso "Sito" Pons, former world champion GP motorcycle racer, owner of MotoGP race team
Jordi Tarrés, motorcycle trial rider, 7 times World Champion
Àlex Crivillé, former GP motorcycle racer, 1999 500cc GP World Champion
Pedro Martínez de la Rosa, former F1 driver
Nani Roma, rally racing motorcycle rider and rally raid driver, winner of 2004 and 2014 Dakar Rally
Sete Gibernau, former GP motorcycle racer
Emilio Alzamora, former motorcycle racer, 1999 125cc GP World Champion
Marc Gené, former F1 driver
Oriol Servià, former ChampCar, IndyCar, and Formula E driver, 1999 Indy Lights champion
Marc Coma, rally raid motorcycle racer, winner of 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2014 Dakar Rally
Adam Raga, motorcycle trial rider, Outdoor Trial World Champion 2005, 2006; Indoor Trial World Champion 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006
Toni Elías, first world champion of "Moto2"
Laia Sanz, motorcycle trial rider and rally raid motorcycle racer; 13 times Women's Outdoor Trial World Champion; winner of the 2011 and 2012 Dakar Rally in the female class
Dani Pedrosa, GP motorcycle racer, 125 and 250cc world champion
Toni Bou, motorcycle trial rider; 8 time Indoor Trial World Champion; 7 time Outdoor Trial World Champion
Jaime Alguersuari, former F1 driver
Marc Márquez, motorcycle racer; 2010 125cc GP World Champion; 2012 Moto2 World Champion; 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2025 MotoGP World Champion

Swimming

Eduard Admetlla i Lázaro, scuba diver pioneer who set the record of reaching 100m deep in 1957
Manuel Estiarte, former water polo player
Gemma Mengual, synchronised swimmer
Mireia Belmonte, medley, freestyle and butterfly swimmer, first woman ever under 8 min in 800m freestyle

Tennis

Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, 3-time French Open winner, US Open winner
Juan Aguilera
Sergi Bruguera, 2-time French Open winner
Àlex Corretja
Albert Costa, French Open winner
Carlos Costa
Andrés Gimeno, French Open winner
Juan Gisbert
Marcel Granollers, active
Marc López, active
Félix Mantilla
Tommy Robredo, active

Other

Carlos Rodríguez, former professional darts player
Juan Antonio Samaranch, president of the IOC from 1980 to 2001
Dani Sánchez, professional carom billiards player
José María Solé Chavero, wheelchair basketball player

Scientists and engineers

François Arago, scientist
Ildefons Cerdà, urban planner
Narcís Monturiol, inventor of the first combustion-driven submarine
Josep Comas i Solà, astronomer, discoverer of the asteroid named 'Barcelona'
Ignacio Barraquer, ophthalmologist known for his contributions to the advancement of cataract surgery. Son of Josep Antoni Barraquer
Esteban Terradas i Illa, mathematician, scientist and engineer
Pere Bosch-Gimpera, anthropologist, archaeologist and prehistorian
Josep Trueta, doctor, professor of orthopedy at Oxford
Jose Barraquer, father of modern refractive surgery and son of Ignacio Barraquer; invented the cryolathe and microkeratome and developed many surgical procedures
Ramon Margalef, pioneer and outstanding researcher in limnology, marine biology, and ecology
Jordi Sabater Pi, primatologist
Joan Oró, biologist
Pere Alberch, biologist and embryologist, professor at Harvard University from 1980 to 1989 and director of the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid.
Valentín Fuster, Doctor of Medicine, director of the Cardiology Institute in Mount Sinai Hospital, New York
Eudald Carbonell, archaeologist, anthropologist and paleonthologist
Joan Massagué, scientist and pharmacist, specialized in the study of cancer metastasis
Josep Baselga, oncologist
Josep Figueras, health policy expert and founding director of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies
Ignacio Cirac, physicist, best known for his contributions to quantum information science
Manel Esteller, doctor, specialized in the study of cancer

Gastronomy

Carme Ruscalleda, chef of Sant Pau
Santi Santamaria, chef of Can Fabes
Ferran Adrià, chef of El Bulli
Joan Roca i Fontané, chef of El Celler de Can Roca
Josep Roca i Fontané, sommelier of El Celler de Can Roca
Jordi Roca i Fontané, pastry chef of El Celler de Can Roca

Saints and religious figures

Raymond of Penyafort, Roman Catholic saint and Dominican
Vicent Ferrer, Valencian Dominican friar, who gained acclaim as a missionary and a logician.
Pope Callixtus III, Alfons de Borja, Valencian pope
Pope Alexander VI, Roderic de Borja, Valencian pope
Gertrudis Anglesola, Valencian Cistercian abbess and mystic
Joseph Oriol
Juníper Serra, Roman Catholic saint and Franciscan missionary
Maria Pilar Bruguera Sábat, Roman Catholic nun and physician
Anthony Mary Claret, founder of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Francisco Coll Guitart, Roman Catholic saint and Dominican; founder of the Dominican Sisters of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin
Josep Sadoc Alemany, first Roman Catholic archbishop of San Francisco, California
Vicente Ferrer Moncho, Jesuit missionary; humanitarian
Jaime Hilario Barbal, Catalan priest and educator, canonized as a saint of the Roman Catholic Church in 1999.
Cassià Maria Just, Benedictine abbot, one of the people in the Spanish Catholic Church who opposed Francisco Franco
Lluís Martínez Sistach, former Cardinal Archbishop of Barcelona ; member of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura

Others

Nahmanides, Catalan-Jewish philosopher
Pompeu Fabra, grammarian
Rosa Sensat, early Doctor of Pedagogy
Alexandre Deulofeu, historian
Joan Gili, antiquarian book-seller, publisher and translator
Juan Pujol García, double agent who played a major role in the Invasion of Normandy during World War II
Rafael Marquina, designer and architect
Jordi Nadal, historian
Salvador Puig i Antich, Catalan anarchist, executed during Franco's regime
Jaume Marxuach i Flaquer, lawyer and writer
Joan Laporta i Estruch, lawyer, president of FC Barcelona, and politician