Biography
Miquel Barceló was born in Felanitx, Mallorca, in 1957. After having studied at the Arts and Crafts School of Palma de Mallorca for two years, he enrolled at the Fine Arts School of Barcelona in 1974. A year later he returned to Mallorca to participate in the happenings and actions of protest of the group Taller Lunatic, a conceptual avantgarde group. A year after his return to Mallorca he had his first one-man show at the Palma Museum.
Throughout the 1980s, he travelled extensively across Europe, the United States and West Africa – always returning to Paris which became a second home and where he set up a second studio. Extremely fascinated by Mali, a third studio was installed in Segou. Because of the political situation Barceló is not able to travel to Mali any more. The time Barceló spent in different countries, his nomadism or peripatetic habits essentially influenced and inspired his work, most strongly the impressions of West Africa: the power of its light, the scorching sun, the rocky landscape, the sea and rivers.
His participation at the Documenta 7, Kassel, Germany, in 1982 gained him international recognition. Barceló's creativity was in demand for a lot of opportunities; in 1990 he designed costumes and the stage for Manuel De Falla's opera Tréteaux de Maître Pierre at the Opéra Comique in Paris and at the Festival of Avignon 2006 he is part of a performance with choreographer Joseph Nadj. In 2002/2003 Barceló almost entirely lined the chapel of St. Peter of the cathedral of Palma with ceramic works. He was using ceramics not as objects (like the series of ritual icons which he did in 1998 for the church Sant Eulalia, Church of the Catalans, in Palermo, Sicily) but for the formation of a crafted mural of approximately 300m2. Barceló covered the entire chapel with terracotta, creating a kind of second skin and decorated it with images related to the sixth chapter of the Gospel of St. John, the miracle of the multiplication of bread and fish, a theme chosen because the chapel is dedicated to the holy sacrament of the Last Supper. In 2004 Barceló's watercolours, illustrating Dante's Divina Commedia, were shown at the Louvre Museum in Paris. Thus, he became the youngest artist ever shown in this museum. 2008 was the inauguration of the enormous ceiling painting in the ellipsoidal dome (1300m2) in the Human Rights Council room at UNO in Geneva and in 2009 the Pavillon of the Venice Biennale (Spanish Pavillon 53rd Venice Biennale) was exclusively decorated with the works of Barceló.
From the mid eighties on, Barceló's work (paintings, drawings, sculptures and ceramics) has been subject of numerous shows worldwide in renowned galleries, important museums and at other cultural sites.
Miquel Barceló currently lives and works in Paris and Mallorca.
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2019
Miquel Barceló, Museo Internazionale delle Ceramiche, Faenza
Miquel Barceló. Vida de Pulpo, Galeria Elvira Gonzalez, Madrid
2018
Miquel Barceló. On The Sea, Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, Salzburg
2017
Miquel Barceló. El Planeta de los Toros, Tobias Mueller Modern Art, Zurich
Miquel Barceló. El Arca de Noé, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca
2016
Miquel Barceló. Acquavella Galleries, New York
Miquel Barceló. Sol y sombra, BnF François-Mitterrand, Paris and Musée national Picasso-Paris
2015
Miquel Barceló. L’Inassèchement, Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, Paris
Miquel Barceló. Ardenti Germinat. New paintings and works on paper, Galerie Bruno Bischofberger, Maennedorf
Miquel Barceló. Gráfico, Calcografía Nacional, Madrid
2014
Miquel Barceló: Courant Central, Ben Brown Fine Arts, Hong Kong
Miquel Barceló. Pinturas, Escultura y Cerámica, Pinakotheke, Sâo Paulo; traveling to Pinakotheke, Rio de Janeiro; Galeria Multiarte, Fortaleza
2013
Miquel Barceló, Galería Elvira González, Madrid
Terra Ignis Miquel Barceló, Musée d’Art Moderne de Céret, Céret
Terra Ignis Miquel Barceló, Museu Nacional do Azulejo, Lisboa
Miquel Barceló, Acquavella Galleries, New York
Miquel Barceló – Ceramics, Galerie Bruno Bischofberger, Zurich (2012-2013)
Miquel Barceló, Bank Austria Kunstforum, Vienna (2012-2013)
2012
Barry Flanagan i Miquel Barceló: Ceràmiques i obra sobre paper, Museu d’Art Contemporani d’Eivissa, Ibiza
Miquel Barceló: Elefandret Sculpture, Union Square Marlborough Gallery, the Union Square Partnership and the City of New York’s Department of Parks & Recreation Public Art Program (2011-2012)
2011
Miquel Barceló. Recent paintings, ceramics and sculpture, Ben Brown Fine Arts, Hong Kong
Le taj. Peinture en scène, Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord, Paris
Miquel Barceló. Work in progress, Lisbon and Estoril Film Festival, Torre de Bélem, Lisboa
2010
Miquel Barceló. La solitude organisative. 1983-2009, Caixa Forum, Madrid; traveling to Caixa Forum, Barcelona
Terramare Miquel Barceló, Palais des Papes; Petit Palais; Collection Lambert, Avignon
Miquel Barceló, Saint Moritz Arts Masters, St. Moritz
Miquel Barceló. Recent Works, Galerie Bruno Bischofberger, Zurich
2009
Miquel Barceló, Pabellón Español. 53ª Exposición Internacional de Arte. La Bienal de Venecia
Barceló abans de Barceló 1973-1982, Fundació Pilar i Joan Miró a Mallorca, Palma; traveling to Les Abattoirs, Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain, Toulouse; Arts Santa Mònica, Barcelona
2008
Miquel Barceló: The African Work, Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin; traveling to CAC Centro de Arte Contemporáneo de Málaga, Malaga
Miquel Barceló. Cephalopod Works, Pilar Corrias Gallery, London
2007
Miquel Barceló, Galerie Yvon Lambert, Paris
Miquel Barceló Clay and Bronze, Long House Reserve, New York
Barceló en las colecciones privadas de Barcelona, Fundación Francisco Godia, Barcelona
2006
Miquel Barceló: New Etchings, Timothy Taylor Gallery, London
Miquel Barceló, Exposition. Sculptures, Céramiques et Dessins au fusain, Église des Célestins, 60º Festival d’Avignon, Avignon
Miquel Barceló. Cerámicas / Ceramics, Jablonka Galerie, Cologne
Miquel Barceló, Museo d’Arte Moderna, Lugano
Miquel Barceló la Divina Commedia, Centro Cultural Fundación Círculo de Lectores, Barcelona
2005
Miquel Barceló, C & M Arts, New York
Miquel Barceló. New works, Galerie Bruno Bischofberger
Las formas del mundo, Sala Kubo, San Sebastian
Barceló. Obra Gráfica. Serie Lanzarote, Arteko Galería, San Sebastian
Miquel Barceló. La Divina Comedia, Castel Nuovo Maschio Angionio, Naples
Gesto de la naturaleza. Miquel Barceló, Galería Gacma, Malaga
2004
Barceló, Pinacoteca do Estado, Sâo Paulo; traveling to Kestner-Museum, Hannover; MARCO-Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Monterrey, Monterrey; Museo Rufino TaMay, Ciudad de México
Miquel Barceló. Sculpture, Galleria Paolo Curti & Co, Milan
La Divine Comédie. Dessins de Miquel Barceló, Salle d’actualité du département des Arts graphiques. Musée du Louvre, Paris
Miquel Barceló, Sala de exposiciones “Ignacio Zuoloaga” y Museo del Grabado, Fuentedetodos
Miquel Barceló, La Divina Comedia, Museo de las artes de la Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara
2003
Miquel Barceló a les Illes Balears, La llotja, Palma; Museu de Menorca, Maó; Capella del Roser, Ciutadella de Menorca; Museu d’Art Contemporani d’Eivissa, Eivissa.; Plaça de Francesc Xavier, Formentera
Miquel Barceló, Fundación Museo del Grabado Español Contemporáneo, Marbella
Miquel Barceló. Obras de la Colección Masaveu, Antigua Plaza del Pescado, Oviedo
Barceló, Pinacoteca do Estado, Sâo Paulo; travelling to Kestner-Museum, Hannover; MARCO-Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Monterrey, Monterrey; Museo Rufino TaMay, Ciudad de Mexico
2002
Barceló. Raccolta di Polvere, Galeria Paolo Curti & Co, Milan
Miquel Barceló. Mapamundi, Fondation Maeght, Saint-Paul de Vence
Miquel Barceló en Silos, Abadía de Santo Domingo de Silos, Silos,
La Biblioteca de Miquel Barceló, Fons Documental Miquel Barceló, Arta
L’Atelier di Miquel Barceló, Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna, Rome
2001
Miquel Barceló. L’ours blesse, Jablonka Galerie, Cologne
Miquel Barceló, new paintings and ceramics, Timothy Taylor Gallery, London,
La Cuina de Miquel Barceló, Fons Documental Miquel Barceló, Arta
Miquel Barceló, Pabellon de “Sociedad Anónima Tudela Veguin” Feria Internacional de Muestras de Asturias
2000
Miquel Barceló, Grant Selwyn Fine Art, New York
Miquel Barceló i Manuel de Falla, Fons Documental Miquel Barceló, Arta
Miquel Barceló, un peintre et la céramique, Musée des arts décoratifs, Paris
1999
Des citrons coupés, Museo de Bellas Artes, Oviedo, February
Miquel Barceló, Museu d’Art Contemporani, Fundació Juan March, Palma, 22 June to October, travelling exhibition, Museu de la Ceràmica, Barcelona
Miquel Barceló, Obra sobre papel 1979-1999, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid; traveling to Sala La General, Granada; Museo de Arte, Sâo Paulo, Brasil; Museo de Arte Moderno, Montevideo, Uruguay; Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Tel Aviv
El llibre per a cecs de Miquel Barcelo, Fons Documental Miquel Barceló, Artà, August to October
1998
Miquel Barceló, Timothy Taylor Gallery, London
Miquel Barceló: 1987 – 1997, Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona (Macba), Barcelona
Il Cristo della Vucciria. Pinturas y cerámicas, Iglesia Santa Eulalia dei Catalani, Festival Sul Novecento, Palermo
1997
Miquel Barceló. Stillevens, Museum voor Moderne Kunt, Ostende
Miquel Barceló, Castillo de Chenonceau, Chenonceaux
Miquel Barceló, Sala Cronopios, Centro Cultural Recoleta, Buenos Aires
Miquel Barceló. Obra 1996 – 1997, Galería Soledad Lorenzo, Madrid
1996
Estampes, Galerie Lucie Weill Seligmann, Paris
Miquel Barceló: Impressions d’Afrique, Galerie d’art graphique du Musée National d’Art Moderne du Centre National d’Art et Culture George Pompidou, Paris
Miquel Barceló, Galerie Nationale du Jeu de Paume, Paris
1995
Miquel Barceló, Leo Castelli Gallery, New York
1994
Miquel Barceló, Galería Soledad Lorenzo, Madrid
Miquel Barceló. Portraits, Galería Bruno Bischofberger, Zurich
Miquel Barceló: 1984 – 1994, Whitechapel Art Gallery, London, 23 September to 20 November 1994, travelling exhibition, Centre del Carmen, Valencia
Miquel Barceló, Galeria Kyoto Chirathivat, Bangkok
1993
Miquel Barceló. New Works, Galería Bruno Bischofberger, Zurich
Miquel Barceló, Galeria Nasoni, Lisboa, 30 April to May, travelling exhibition, Galería Nasoni, Oporto
Barceló, Galería Cívica de Arte Contemporanea, Trento
Miquel Barceló : Tekeningen van Mali, Kunsthall Rotterdam, Rotterdam
1992
Miquel Barceló, Galería Soledad Lorenzo, Madrid
Miquel Barceló, First Gallery, Moscow
Miquel Barceló, Piece Unique, Paris
Miquel Barceló, Galería Salvador Riera, Barcelona
Miquel Barceló, Gana Art Gallery, Seoul
1991
Toros, Galerie Bruno Bischofberger, Zurich
Miquel Barceló, Musée d’Art Contemporain de Nimes, Nimes
1990
Miquel Barceló, Galería Soledad Lorenzo, Madrid
Miquel Barceló, Waddington Galleries, London
Miquel Barceló, Manel Mayral Galeria d’Art, Barcelona
Miquel Barceló, Galerie Yvon Lambert, Paris
1989
Miquel Barceló, Galería Lucio Amelio, Naples
Barceló in Mali, Galeria Dau al Set, Barcelona
Paintings, Leo Castelli Gallery, New York
Drawings and prints, Castelli Graphics, Nueva York
1988
Miquel Barceló, Galerie Bruno Bischofberger, Zurich
Miquel Barceló: Peintures récentes, Musée d’Art Contemporain de Montreal, Montreal
Barceló - Barcelona. Miquel Barceló. Pintura de 1985 a 1987, L’Antic Teatre de la Casa de la Caritat, Barcelona (1987-1988)
1987
Miquel Barceló, Galería Yvon Lambert, Paris
Miquel Barceló, Galerie Michael Haas, Berlin
Miquel Barceló, Waddington Galleries, London
1986
Miquel Barceló, Thomas Segal Gallery, Boston
Miquel Barceló, Leo Castelli Gallery, Nueva York
Miquel Barceló. Drawings 1985, Anders Tornberg Gallery, Kungsgatan
1985
Miquel Barceló. New Painting, Akira Ikeda Gallery, Nagoya
Miquel Barceló. Neue Arbeiten, Galerie Rudolf Zwirner, Cologne
Miquel Barceló. Peintures de 1983 à 1985, CAPC, Burdeos; travelling to Palacio de Velázquez, Madrid; Institute Contemporary of Art, Boston
Miquel Barceló. Drawings 1985, Anders Torngerg Gallery, Lund
Miquel Barceló. Neue Bilder, Galerie Bruno Bischofberger, Zurich
1984
Miquel Barceló, Galerie Bruno Bischofberger, Zurich
Miquel Barceló, Galería Juana de Aizpuru, Madrid
1983
Pintagossos, Galería Med a Mothi, Montpellier
Miquel Barceló, Galería Lucio Amelio, Naples
Miquel Barceló, Galería Yvon Lambert, Paris
1982
Miquel Barceló, Colegio de Arquitectos, Palma de Mallorca
Miquel Barceló. Pinturas, Galería Fúcares, Almagro
Barceló, Galería Trece, Barcelona
Miquel Barceló, Galerie Axe Art Actuel, Toulouse
1981
Llibres Pintats, Galería Metronom, Barcelona
1978
Miquel Barceló Artigues, Galería Sa Pleta Freda, Son Servera
1977
Miquel Barceló Artigues, Galería 4 Gats, Palma
1976
Barceló Artigues Galería, 4 Gats, Palma de Mallorca
Cadaverina 15, Museo Mallorca, Palma de Mallorca
1974
Barceló Artigues, Galería d’Art Picarol, Cala d’Or