The Museo Extremeño e Iberoamericano de Arte Contemporáneo (MEIAC) has opened an exhibition featuring a collection of 81 works by 28 contemporary artists, donated by the Ángel Romero Art Gallery. This gallery, established in 1985, has focused on promoting and showcasing emerging creators who have transformed the Spanish art scene since the 1980s.
The exhibition was inaugurated by José Luis Gil Soto, the Secretary General of Culture, who was joined by Ángel Romero, the gallery owner, as well as several artists featured in the show, including Elena Blasco, Santiago Rodríguez del Hoyo, and Manuel Rufo, alongside the director of MEIAC.
This showcase represents a significant commitment to the renewal of art in Spain since the country's transition to democracy, underscoring Ángel Romero's dedication to supporting emerging artistic talent despite the economic risks involved. The gallery has also served as a platform for Latin American artists from countries such as Cuba, Colombia, and Uruguay, enriching the national art landscape.
Since its inauguration in 1995, the MEIAC has acquired works from the gallery, including pieces by Ibero-American artists like Los Carpinteros, José Bedia, and Carlos Capelán, which are part of its Ibero-American Collection. Ángel Romero Muñoz, the owner of the gallery, hails from Peñalsordo in Cáceres and has continued to donate works to the MEIAC, bringing the total to 81 pieces from 28 artists with impressive artistic credentials.
The exhibited collection encompasses a variety of techniques and styles, featuring conceptual art by Concha Jerez and Santiago Sierra, abstraction by Carlos León and Santiago Rodríguez del Hoyo, and works from the New Basque Sculpture movement, including pieces by Ángel Bados and Txomin Badiola. Additionally, the exhibition includes photographs by Ciuco Gutiérrez, drawings by Elena Blasco, and sculptures by Federico Uribe, as well as contributions from Latin American artists like Carlos Capelán, Gloria Herazo, and Ibrahim Miranda.
Many of these artists, once considered young talents, have gained recognition through the gallery, receiving accolades such as the Velázquez Prize for Plastic Arts and the Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts. The MEIAC is organising this exhibition as a gesture of gratitude towards Ángel Romero, providing a comprehensive view of Spanish art from the last decades of the 20th century, which has been featured in fairs such as ARCO-Madrid and other international events.
Featured artists in the exhibition include:
- Txomin Badiola
- Ángel Bados
- Miguel Ángel Blanco
- Elena Blasco
- Carlos Capelán
- Florentino Díaz
- Gustavo Díaz Sosa
- José Emilio Fuentes Fonseca
- Javier Garcés
- Ignacio Goitia
- Ciuco Gutiérrez
- Gloria Herazo
- Concha Jerez
- Carlos León
- Alonso Mateo
- Ibrahim Miranda
- Isaac Montoya
- David Murcia
- Carlos Quintana
- Santiago Rodríguez del Hoyo
- Bernardí Roig
- Manuel Rufo
- Manuel Saiz
- Santiago Sierra
- Antoni Socias
- Federico Uribe
