Opening: Thursday, November 13, 2014, at 8pm, with the artist.
Michel Soskine Inc. presents at the gallery space in Madrid an exhibition gathering a selection of ceramic sculptures by the young Spanish artist Gregorio Peño (1983, Toledo).
In his most recent series: “Formas Abatidas” (Downed forms), “Floración” (Bloom) and “Surcos” (Grooves) the artist explores the convulsion and transformation of matter, using the ceramic materials as means to accomplish visual and conceptual features that could hardly be achieved with other materials.
Thus, the work by Peño departs from a formal geometrical conception that contrasts with the appearance of the organic-shaped, reducing or expanding, melted clay.
Emotion, mystery, tension and time, are the nexus of these series where, despite the drama of some of the contrasts, the works retain a surprising unity and formal elegance.
GREGORIO PEÑO
1983, Villafranca de los Caballeros, Toledo, Spain.
Graduated superior technician in plastic arts and design (artistic ceramics) by the Art School Francisco Alcántara, in Madrid (2004-2007).
Since he was a child, Gregorio Peño was trained in the family pottery workshop, now over 150 years old. He soon drifted towards is own practice, now consolidated as a solid artistic proposal.
Despite his youth, his work has been recognized in Spain and abroad through different awards which include: Honorable mention at the X International Ceramics Competition Mino, in Japan, 2014; Selected for the exhibition “Hot Rookies”, Gyenonggi International Ceramic Biennale 2013 in South Korea; “Under thirty-five year old” prize, International Biennale of Vallauris – Contemporary creation and ceramic, in France, 2012; First prize of the Certamen Jóvenes Artistas de Castilla la Mancha, in Spain, 2011; among others.
His works can be found in public collections such as: Museum of Modern Ceramic Art (Gifu, Japan); Icheon World Ceramic Center, South Korea; Museo de Albacete (Spain); Fundación Venancio Blanco (Salamanca, Spain) and others.