Barjola, An Apocryphal Portrait offers a journey through the legacy of Juan Barjola (1919-2004), a key artist in the New Figuration and Spanish Expressionism movement and a fundamental figure in the origins of Colección SOLO. To recognise his progressive and contemporary vision, the exhibition connects Barjola’s work with that of more than 20 international artists in Colección SOLO. Works by Stephan Balkenhol, David Altmejd, Tomoo Gokita, Eva Alonso, Tobias Bradford, Aaron Johnson, Martina Menegon, Lusesita, and Paco Pomet, among others, are part of this display, alongside works by masters such as Francis Bacon and David Lynch.
With Barjola, An Apocryphal Portrait, organised in collaboration with the Legado Barjola, SOLO aims to highlight the relevance of Barjola, whose practice has informed the approach of its collection, a project that evolves alongside contemporary art.
The works from the SOLO Collection that are included in the exhibition—ranging from painting and sculpture to kinetic art and works using artificial intelligence—allow us to rediscover Juan Barjola from an updated perspective.
About Juan Barjola
Born in Badajoz in 1919, Juan Barjola is a key figure in Spanish art, a tireless explorer of gesture, space, and colour who took figuration to new territories and eloquently articulated the drama of human existence. His work is currently part of renowned collections and institutions, such as the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía (MNCARS), the Valencian Institute of Modern Art (IVAM), the European Parliament Collection, and the Barjola Museum in Gijón, which is devoted to the artist, among others.
Extended visiting hours
Barjola, An Apocryphal Portrait can be visited at SOLO Independencia during various opening hours, always as part of a guided tour in Spanish or English. For this exhibition, the space is expanding its weekly tour schedule and adding new tours every Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. Check schedules and ticket types here.
- Download the complete press kit here.
