Jan Vallverdú

Vallverdú started his artistic journey from a young age, quickly transitioning from making drawings at home to painting murals on a monumental scale. He was attracted by the expressive possibilities and kinetic essence of mural painting, influences that remain present in his practice. The impact of his background has left an indelible mark in his studio work, which combines the spontaneity and intentionality of the former, with the discipline of the latter.   

Through dynamic figurations and layered symbolism, Vallverdú’s work delves into existential questions and inner conflicts, exploring the complexities of human existence, both on a personal and societal level. Painting serves as a vehicle for introspection and self-expression, allowing the artist to grapple with personal experiences and emotions while pushing the perceived limits of his practice. 

He seeks to convey the duality of human nature, with its light and its shadows, through figurative imagery that often hints at turmoil or unrest. His paintings capture bodies in constant movement, avoiding formal representations and instead opting for ambiguous, dynamic forms that suggest flux and contradiction.

His work reflects a deep engagement with the medium of painting. He transitioned from acrylic to oil paints, drawn to the latter's longer drying time and the ability to work in layers. This allows him to immerse himself in the painting process, exploring textures and techniques with a sense of meditative deliberation. Oil paints enable him to create more complex surfaces that unify the painting as a cohesive whole, and to develop new techniques and textures that enhance the expressive potential of his work.

Jan Vallverdú’s work process is characterized by a combination of spontaneity and introspection. He draws inspiration from his subconscious, capturing preconceptions and existential questions through sketches and drawings done at night or while traveling. These initial ideas serve as a starting point for his paintings, which evolve through constant experimentation and refinement. He navigates the tension between intention and accident, allowing his paintings to evolve organically while retaining a strong conceptual framework.

His process reflects his personal journey as an artist, from his roots in graffiti and muralism to his current exploration of painting in a studio setting. Through his work, he confronts the challenges of reconciling different influences and interests, forging an artistic path of evolution. 

Vallverdú’s body of work is unified by a consistent investigation of personal and societal themes. Each series builds upon previous ones, both technically and conceptually, serving as clear milestones or reference points in his career. While he does not seek to explicitly link his different series, they form a narrative thread that reflects his evolving perspective on the human condition.

b. 1995 | Barcelona, Spain

  • SOLO EXHIBITIONS:

    2023: -"A la Sotja" at Studio Herminia (Hospitalet del Llobregat)

    - "JOC BRUT" Solo Exhibition (Pop-up) with Galeria Marlborough Barcelona in collaboration with El Mercado de la Boqueria de Barcelona, at "Espai Boqueria."

    2022 - "Parafernalia" Solo Exhibition at La Plataforma Barcelona

    2021 - "Jan Vallverdú" Solo Exhibition at "Galeria Marlborough," Barcelona

    2019 - "Sense Titol 18x19" Solo Exhibition at "Nau Bostik," Barcelona
    - "Quel Chouse" Pop-up Expo, 8 Rue Perchepinte, Toulouse, France

    GROUP EXHIBITIONS:


    2024
    - "Salon de Verano" Beta Contemporay, Barcelona

    - Collective Show "Teatro" Ola Gallery, Barcelona 2023 - Collective Exhibition "Ser" at Ola Gallery, Barcelona

    - Collective Exhibition"Dragon de Cuatro Cabezas" Group Show, Herrero Tejada Gallery, Madrid

    2022 - Collective Exhibition "20x20" Marlborough Gallery, Barcelona
    2021 - ZTK Solo Show "sotapont" Installation at B-Murals Gallery (Barcelona)

    -"Beastie Beauty" Collective Exhibition, Plataforma 2 Gallery, Barcelona
    2019 - ZTK Individual Exhibition: "ESCENA X" Installation at Espai Carme Malaret (Sant

    Just Desvern)
    - Cruixent, GROUP EXHIBITIONS, Espronceda Gallery, Barcelona

    2017 - SOUARI Collective Exhibition, l'Atelier de la Pilar Guell Gallery, Barcelona "SIN WIFI" Collective, Nau Bostik, Barcelona
    - NIU, l'Atelier de la Pilar Guell Gallery, Barcelona
    - Collective "Inhibición" (Godsbanen) Aarhus, Denmark

    2016 - "Postales" La Place Gallery, Barcelona
    - Libero Beer, Via Tripoli, Rome
    - NIU, l'Atelier de la Pilar Guell Gallery, Barcelona

    2013 - "In-Completos" Mutuo Art Center, Barcelona

    ART FAIRS:

    2024 - ARCO Lisboa 24 with BETA Contemporary , Barcelona.

    - Uvnt Art Fair24 Madrid, with Herrero de Tejada Gallery.

    2023 - Uvnt Art Fair 23 Madrid, with Plataforma2 Gallery (Barcelona) - SWAB art fair Barcelona, with Herrero de Tejada gallery

    RESIDENCIES:

    - Fundación SZ, Artistic Residency EL NÚCLEO, Segovia July 2023.
    - B-Murals Gallery Barcelona, Residency with ZTK Collective, Barcelona ,May 2020 - "Inhibición" Project (Godsbanen) Aarhus, Denma

    EDUCATION:


    - 2018: Higher Degree in Applied Arts to the Wall at the School of Arts and Crafts "La

    Llotja," Barcelona
    - 2018: Study of Anatomical Drawing at the Academy of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
    - 2015: Higher Degree in Illustration at the School of Arts and Crafts "La Llotja," Barcelona

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