Miquel Barceló Spanish, b. 1957

Miquel Barceló, born in in Felantix, Mallorca, in 1957, is one of Spain’s most eminent living artists, known for his tactile, organic, and large-scale mixed media works. His practice draws on a vibrant mosaic of cultural and geographical influences, shaped by time spent in his native Spain, as well as Portugal, Italy, France, Switzerland, and Mali. Barceló often incorporates unconventional materials – volcanic ash, seaweed, sediment, and handmade pigments – pushing the boundaries of painterly technique while remaining grounded in the tradition of painting. His richly textured canvases reflect a deep engagement with nature, capturing the interplay of light, underwater vistas, and the ceaseless movement of the sea – a constant source of inspiration.

Barceló studied briefly in the Arts and Crafts School of Palma de Mallorca before enrolling at the Fine Arts School of Barcelona in 1994. Barceló’s international acclaim flourished with his notable participation in the São Paulo Biennial in 1981, and Documenta VII in 1982. In 2004, Barceló’s watercolours illustrating Dante’s Divine Comedy were shown at the Musée du Louvre in Paris, making him the youngest artist ever exhibited at the museum. In 2009, Barceló represented Spain at the 53rd Venice Biennale. His work has been exhibited at prestigious institutions around the world including the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris; Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid; Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao; and the Museo Tamayo, Mexico City. Barceló is also recognised for his public commissions, notably his permanent installations at the Cathedral of Palma de Mallorca, the Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Chamber at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva, and the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris.

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