Manolo Quejido

El pozo, 1980

Sevilla, 1946

Spanish painter and graphic artist who was part of the New Figuration movement in Madrid at the end of the 1970s. He moved to live in Madrid in 1964, when he began painting. Here he joined the group of artists who exhibited at the Buades gallery in Madrid. Over the next ten years he experimented with the avant-garde languages ​​of the time. His early work is also closely linked to the political commitment of the Spanish artistic context of the 1970s.

His work was born from the need to reflect on the social function of art. In his first period we can highlight a clear influence from the artistic group Equipo 57, but later he was situated between Pop Art and neo-expressionist painting. His work is characterised by bright colours, full of festive joy and vibrant brushstrokes. In Quejido we find a reaction to the darker character of informalism. He shows an ironic and provocative attitude in his works.

The Suñol Soler Collection keeps 2 paintings by the artist in its reserve: El beso (1980) and El pozo (1980). The latter was loaned by the Suñol Foundation to the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía (MNCARS) for the 2022-2023 exhibition ‘Distance without Measure’, which pays tribute to the artist’s career. His work was also shown in group exhibitions by the foundation: ‘Coloquios’ and ‘Los esquizos de Madrid: Figuración madrileña de los ‘70’ (in collaboration with the MNCARS) in 2009 and ‘5è Anniversari. 27 obres, 18 autors’ (2011-2012).

List of artworks

El beso , 1980

El pozo , 1980

El beso , 1980

El pozo , 1980

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