Julio Vaquero’s first solo show at Marlborough Barcelona presents an array of unsettlingly beautiful paintings
Between May 24th and June 23rd the gallery exhibits the Barcelonan artist’s most recent artwork.
A very personal approach to seemingly trivial elements has been a recurring trait of Julio Vaquero’s (Barcelona, 1958) previous paintings. In this exhibition, the artist goes one step beyond his gradual break away from Realism and presents a series of works that turn their gaze to their world of origin. Using an ingenious and singular technique that combines chalk and wash painting, Julio Vaquero creates a scenery where the decaying relics get sometimes diluted by some disturbing apparitions. This, along with the nods to pop culture, has contributed to making this artist’s creations become a symbol of fresh and innovative contemporary art.
Julio Vaquero graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts of Sant Jordi in 1979, where he was awarded the Joan Güell painting prize. His first solo exhibition in Barcelona took place in 1987 and his career took off so successfully from there that he was twice awarded the Medal of Honour at the BMW painting awards, in 1994 and 1996. In 1999 the Centre d’Arts Santa Mònica included one of his paintings in the exhibition dedicated to Realism in Catalonia. In 2011, he collaborated with them again with his installation El final de las apariencias.
He has exhibited solo shows in Spain, Italy and the United States and his artwork can be found in a wide variety of international fairs such as Art Brussels, ARCO, LA Art Show or Arte Fiera.
Some of his most recent exhibitions have been at the Galería Torbadena, Trieste (2016), Visiones de la realidad at the Fundación Caja Canarias, Tenerife (2014), Buscar en tierra de nadie at the Fundació Privada Vilacasas, Barcelona (2013) and De luces mixtas in Galeria Marlborough Madrid, Madrid (2011). Along with this, his experience and pictorial knowledge led him to a wide array of universities and cultural institutions where he contributes as a lecturer. In addition, he acts as an art consultant for the media as well as for cultural organisations in Spain.
Julio Vaquero’s artwork can be found in multiple permanent collections such as the Colección Editorial Planeta (Barcelona), the Colecció Testimoni of La Caixa (Barcelona), the Colección Hesperia (Barcelona), the Fundació Privada Vilacasas (Barcelona), the Fundació Sorigué (Lleida) and the Barilla Collection (Parma).