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