For its next edition of 2019, Art Madrid bets on the creative talent of Madrid-born artist Rubén Martín de Lucas, who will present an exclusive issue of his "Repúblicas mínimas" and will have a very active participation in the fair.

With the choice of the guest artist, Art Madrid wants to support authors in an initial or intermediate career that stand out for their committed character, their constant search for new expressive languages, the continuity in their artistic practice and the development of transnational projects that explore new discourses in contemporary art. It is a firm commitment to the creative talent that the fair will translate in a greater presence of the artist, by calling to participatory actions that involve the public with the processes of artistic production.

Rubén Martín de Lucas, "Repúblicas mínimas", nº 5

Since the beginning of his solo career, Rubén Martín de Lucas has developed a work focused on the relationship of the individual with the environment and his intervention on the territory. The discursive load of the work of this multidisciplinary artist adopts numerous forms and proposals, from painting to photography, although in recent times his projects tend to video creation. With an expressive language that starts from the exploration of the landscape and the analysis of the footprint of humankind in nature, Rubén proposes a critical approach to certain concepts that result in artificial delimitations, barriers and separations which the landscape does not understand. As he explains: "I speak of borders, of the strange concept of property of the land, of overpopulation, of industrial agriculture, of the anthropisation of the landscape. Understanding my work takes time and a small effort on the part of the viewer." To these ideas responds his most ambitious project "Stupid borders", of which "Repúblicas mínimas" is one of his lines of work: a process of creation permanently open that will have in Art Madrid a new unpublished piece.

Rubén Martín de Lucas, "Repúblicas mínimas", nº 11

From Art Madrid we want to value the constant evolution, the expressive search and the discursive commitment of Rubén's work. He is an indefatigable artist who does not understand obstacles, and risks in his works with innovative proposals. In addition, he has a mature and transcendent artistic discourse, resulting in a coherent and very promising career.

Rubén Martín de Lucas graduated in Civil Engineering in 2002, but before finishing his studies he began to excel in his artistic side by co-founding the Boa Mistura group, a collective that stands out mainly for its urban art interventions in Brazil, South Africa, Germany, Mexico or Norway. In 2015 he decided to start his solo career with a discourse focused on the reflection on the intervention of mankind in the environment; a thematic line from which several projects have already emerged and which have allowed Rubén to participate in numerous exhibitions inside and outside Spain.

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.