Art Madrid'25 – JOAN MIRÓ A PERMANENT IN MADRID

Song of the bird to the dew of the moon, Joan Miró, 1955 Successió Miró 2016

 

 

Joan Miró, painter, sculptor, engraver and ceramist. A versatile artist known for being one of the greatest representatives of Surrealism in the 20th century. His work delves into the subconscious and recalls a certain childhood background. Its beginnings were marked by movements like the Fauvism, the expressionism or the cubism, but soon it passed of tiptoes by this naif style that so characterized to him. From his stay in the French capital, his work began to show a certain dream aspect.

 

 

Three Balls, 1972, Joan Miró Successió Miró 2016

 

 

The collection of 65 pieces, mostly from the last decades of his career, also includes previous works. In addition, you can also enjoy an oil and four sculptures by Alexander Calder, with whom he shared a great friendship. These were a gift from Calder himself to Miró.

 

The collection consists of pieces of different owners that are in temporary storage. The Mapfre Foundation has got with this its exhibition hall is obligatory stop for all those adepts to study the work of Miró. 

 

 

View of the exhibition

 

 

This show is an evolution of the style of the artist, you can find characteristic pieces that demonstrate the strong commitment that he put in each stage. One of his qualities was to constantly reinvent the pre-defined ideas of each style and endow them with a new meaning. Influenced by Cubism, he looking for different points of view by giving them a new life. The collection presents a vital and enthusiastic Miró who was free to express all the fullness he felt.

 

 

Portrait of Joan Miró, 1930. Private collection in temporary storage

 

 

If something stands out from this artist is his wish to avoid conventions. In the final stretch of his career, perhaps one of the most unknown stages of criticism, Miró remained true to his style. In this sample divided into 5 sections have managed to capture the essence of this visionary who decided to spend his retirement on the island paradise of Mallorca.

 

 

 

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.