The Presidents of the California Art Club

Jose Drudis-Biada
(1890 - 1985)
27th CAC President

Born December (2 or 19?), 1890 in Avinyo, Spain (near Barcelona) to Juan Drudis - a physician, surgeon, artist and musician - and Montserrat Biada de Drudis. His mother's father, Miguel Biada, was the founder of the first railroad in Spain. When he was a young boy, his father sent him to study with Don Jose Ruiz (Pablo Picasso's father; Pablo soon began using his mother's surname) at the Barcelona School of Fine Arts where traditions of the academies were strictly followed. He traveled to Havana, Cuba and then to New York City and Cinncinnati before coming to California. He became a Naturalized Citizen of the United States in 1933. In California, he participated in many exhibitions, including those with the Friday Morning Club, The Pacific Coast Club, the Ebell Club and the California Art Club; as well as concurrent exhibitions in Spain.The Jose Drudis-Biada Hall and Art Gallery at Mount Saint Mary's College house a collection of 92 of his works in various mediums on campus.