Art Madrid'25 – LIL BLANC: SEQUENCE OF GRADIENTS

Lil Blanc

CONVERSATIONS WITH MARISOL SALANOVA. INTERVIEW PROGRAM.

LIL BLANC. REPRESENTED BY RODRIGO JUARRANZ GALLERY AT ART MADRID’25.


Lil Blanc (Madrid, 1993) began by experimenting with textures, gradually evolving toward gradients and exploring the transition from one color to another. This led her to a form of abstraction that expresses intense emotions. Her artistic journey started with a focus on high-gloss finishes, but the structure of her paintings has grown increasingly significant, transforming each into a nearly sculptural piece. The gentle gradations of color in her canvases evoke sunset skies, and her intent to capture that fleeting moment stems from a personal experience watching a summer sunset. Her work is not only observed but also experienced, inviting reflection on time, transience, and space. A perfectionist by nature, she adheres to the philosophy that less is more—a legacy of her architectural background. Without artifice, she crafts stories that are not immediately evident, embedding layers of meaning within each piece.


Touch the Sky. Mixed media on canvas with a high-gloss epoxy finish. 2024. 100 x 100 cm.


What role does experimentation play in your creative process?

For me, experimentation is innate and natural. Being in constant production generates movement and a flow of ideas. I started with more organic works where textures took center stage, eventually shifting toward gradients and high-gloss finishes, each step driven by the pursuit of perfecting my technique. No two works are alike; in fact, there is always a continuous search to create something new and different.


Lil Blanc's studio by Amores.


Who are your references?

Having studied architecture instead of fine arts gives me a different set of influences, which certainly shapes my creative approach. I’ve always been inspired by Mies van der Rohe’s "less is more," the color palette of SelgasCano’s Serpentine Pavilion, and the fantastical creations of the Archigram group. Additionally, social media connects me with contemporary artists. For instance, I admire Nick Thomm’s XXL high-gloss pieces, “onekean_” for his gradients, and C. J. Hendry for her mastery of colored pencil.


Kill Bill. Mixed media on canvas with a high-gloss epoxy finish. 2024. 100 x 100 cm.


What is the most recurring internal dialogue in your creative dynamic?

I rarely listen to music while working; I prefer silence, as it helps me think. My most frequent dialogue is with the piece I’m creating—I think about how to convey its story and the words that will bridge the connection with the viewer. I also anticipate potential questions and draft responses. In fact, I invent dialogues about the piece, which influence my process; if something contradicts the message I want to convey, I revise the work itself.


Lil Blanc's studio by Amores.


How would you like your work to be perceived?

Artistically, I want my pieces to bring joy to people, to warm spaces, fill rooms with color, and leave a noticeable void in their absence. I want the gloss to reflect the happenings of a room and for the gradients to harmonize with natural light, evoking balance and serenity. On the other hand, I strive for the highest quality and perfection. From the first step to the last, I meticulously oversee every detail. I’m a perfectionist, and my goal is for the viewer to sense this simply by contemplating the work—for the piece to speak for itself.


pie de foto


What technical challenges do you currently face?

The second part of the process presents the greatest difficulties. Achieving a flawless high-gloss finish requires extreme precision, attention to every detail of the process chain, respecting timing, and turning an artistic endeavor into something almost chemical. Moreover, working with large formats up to three meters adds to the complexity. Yet, when I see the final result, it’s all worth it.





At the most recent edition of Art Madrid, artist Luis Olaso (Bilbao, 1986), represented by Kur Art Gallery (San Sebastián), received the Residency Prize of the Art Madrid Patronage Program. This award, the result of a collaboration between Art Madrid, DOM Art Residence, and the Italian association ExtrArtis, enabled him to undertake an artistic residency in Sorrento (Italy) in August 2025.

Through initiatives like this, the fair reaffirms its support for contemporary creation—a commitment aimed at increasing artists’ visibility and strengthening art collecting through concrete actions such as acquisition prizes, recognition of emerging talents, and international residencies.


Artists in Residence. DOM & ExtrArtis. Image courtesy of Agata D’Esposito.


The DOM & ExtrArtis 2025 Residency Program took place in Sorrento from August 1 to 31, 2025. The artists lived together at Relais La Rupe, a 16th-century villa surrounded by cliffs and centuries-old gardens, which became an ideal setting for experimentation and exchange.

In this edition, residents worked around the theme “Reimagining Genius Loci”, an invitation to reflect on how the movement of people and traditions transforms the “spirit of place.” During the residency, DOM organized two public group exhibitions: the first to present the artists’ previous work, and the second to showcase the projects developed in Sorrento.


Work by Luis Olaso. DOM & ExtrArtis. Image courtesy of Agata D’Esposito.


Luis Olaso’s work moves between expressionist figuration and abstraction, always employing a pictorial language charged with strength and emotion. Initially self-taught, he later graduated in Fine Arts and has developed a solid international career, with exhibitions at venues including JD Malat (London) and Makasiini Contemporary (Turku, Finland), and participation in fairs such as Untitled Miami, Estampa, and Art Madrid itself.

His work is part of prestigious collections, including the Tokyo Contemporary Art Foundation, Fundación SIMCO, and the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, and has been recognized in competitions such as the Reina Sofía Prize for Painting and Sculpture and the Ibercaja Young Painting Prize.

In Sorrento, Olaso found a unique context to expand his pictorial research, engaging in dialogue with the Mediterranean landscape and the region’s historical heritage. The residency provided him with time, resources, and a framework for exchange with other international artists, fostering the production of new works that were later presented in the group exhibitions organized by DOM.


Luis Olaso working on his project. DOM & ExtrArtis. Image courtesy of DOM.

Luis Olaso’s experience at DOM Art Residence concluded with a public showcase of the works produced, reinforcing his presence on the international circuit and consolidating his position as one of the most prominent Basque artists on the contemporary scene.


Through initiatives such as this, Art Madrid demonstrates its active role as a platform for direct support of contemporary creation, creating opportunities for research, production, and intercultural dialogue that extend beyond the fair itself and accompany artists in their professional development.