Clavé was a Catalan, born in Barcelona. He studied at the School of Fine Arts in Barcelona, first studying at night as he was a house painter during the day. He obtained work as a stage designer. During the Civil War he fought on the Republican side but after Franco took power he escaped to France. He lived and worked in Paris, where he became an intimate friend of Picasso. After many years of struggling to find acceptance he showed his work in many group exhibitions with Picasso, Borés and Domingo. In Paris he continued his theatre work, designing sets for amongst other theatres the Roland Petit Ballet. He was awarded the prize at the Venice Biennale in 1957 although it was not until the 1960s that he enjoyed real success and his work was exhibited widely in international museums.
His early graphic work was mainly coloured lithography. Later he turned to etching, using carborundum techniques and other methods of producing deep relief in his prints. He also took up sculpture