Art Madrid'25 – RUBÉN RAMOS BALSA FOOTSTEPS

Icosahedron. Rubén Ramos Balsa

 

 

Rubén Ramos Balsa, Santiago de Compostela 1978. He is an artist, who works between Spain and Japan. This is the first large-scale exhibition at a museum institution. It brings together work created throughout his career, without any specific continuity, but tries to bring it all together with the sense that the viewer wants to give. For Ramos, technology and integration in his works are the perfect blend to write his speech. Throughout his career he has exhibited in several national and international galleries, acquired the fame after participating in Pabellón de España in the Venice Biennale of 2007, his work did capture the attention of all. 

 

 

Double the half. Rubén Ramos Balsa

 

 

"Double of the half" is the name of the exhibition, curated by Juan de Nieves. The show is not articulated in a methodical way but plays with the versatility of the works so that they themselves are based on the discourse. The determination of space and time make the composition articulate in front of the visitor's eyes. The conceptual organization, makes the artist make and unravel according to the space in which exposes and thus achieves this dynamic and participatory staging.

 

 

Small observatory. Rubén Ramos Balsa

 

 

The exhibition, has 60 works that record unrepeatable and arrested moments that can be interpreted as simple exercises of physics and mechanics that make question the visual space. The works that make up this exhibition are photographs, videos, sculptures and installations. Some of them, have been modified for this space, following the line of the artist. With this it wants to relativize the character of them in a unitary way and to get open and connected structures.

 

 

 Work of Rubén Ramos

 

 

The landscape, refers to different scientific research scenes, with this acquires a didactic and fresh character that demands the attention of the viewer. If you are in the area, do not hesitate to approach and enjoy this extrasensory experience to which Ruben Ramos invites you. Until April 30, 2017.

 

 

 

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.