“To mark the centenary of Antoni Tàpies’ birth (1923–2012), the Museo Reina Sofía and Fundació Antoni Tàpies have organised one of the most comprehensive exhibitions of the artist’s work to date. Spanning over 220 pieces from museums and private collections worldwide, the exhibition offers an in-depth look at Tàpies’ career from 1943 to 2012.

A self-taught artist, music lover and bibliophile, Tàpies consistently reflected on the human condition, his historical context and his artistic practice, particularly the limits and contradictions of painting. His early years were shaped by the legacy of historical avant-garde movements and his involvement with the Catalan avant-garde group Dau al Set, which he was part of until the early 1950s. Afterwards, he embarked on an extensive period of experimentation with materials -incorporating elements such as marble dust and cement- leading to his international recognition.

From the 1960s onwards, Tàpies began creating more object-based works, in which the materials in his paintings took on the form of everyday objects, evolving into three-dimensional pieces. At this time, his political commitment, particularly his anti-Franco stance, also became more pronounced in his work. The advent of democracy in Spain, alongside a new cultural reality, coincided with further material investigations, including the use of varnish and an increasing influence from Eastern spirituality. These influences would inspire a more refined body of work, marked by great lyricism.

In the final two decades of his life, as one century gave way to the next, a sense of nostalgia permeated Tàpies’ art, with themes of aging, death and illness becoming central to his creations.

This exhibition, featuring works some of which have not been seen together for many years, highlights Tàpies’ prolific career and repositions his influence within the context of contemporary art history”.