Juan De la Rica

Bilbao, España, 1979

Juan de la Rica is a Spanish painter based in Bilbao. Close to the sphere of pop artists such as Alex Katz or David Hockney, Juan de la Rica’s pictorial work appears to us as a breath of fresh air, dense and superficial at the same time.

More about the artist

Regarding one of his 2021 exhibitions, entitled “De nada”, Juan de la Rica stated:

“I like to say that the subject is nothing more than a MacGuffin, to use Hitchcock’s language, a plot excuse for the painting to move forward. I see it a bit like the paradox of figurative painting: we painters are constantly looking for interesting subjects when what is interesting is the painting itself”.

In an interview for Sirocomag, he clarifies that his themes, arduously used in Art History, do not intend to overcome their superficial treatment. However, he understands that they may arouse new readings. In this way, he presents us with imagery that is far from anything new but continues to surprise and absorb us with each representation.

In his statements he claims that drawing is an enhancer of painting itself, stating that he considers it fundamental, “like the foundations of painting”. About the marked melancholy and density that his works exude, he explains that, far from being something intentional, it is the outcome of his intuition when painting.

The protagonists of his paintings -whether humans, animals, gods, or landscapes- are invested with a deep depth, accentuated by the use of color and the cleanness of the drawing. However, this introspection is combined with the superficial halo of pop art present in his work. It is a continuous dichotomous game since, despite his complex conception of painting, he embraces the ironic tone that his figures arouse.

Juan De la Rica

Artworks

Juan De la Rica
Tenista 3
Painting Sold
Juan De la Rica
Pensadora 2
Painting Sold
Juan De la Rica
Madonna con gato
Painting
Juan De la Rica
Pensadora
Painting Sold
Juan De la Rica
Tres piernas III
Painting
Juan De la Rica
Tres piernas II
Painting
Juan De la Rica
Tres piernas I
Painting
Juan De la Rica
Parable of footballer
Painting Sold
Juan De la Rica
Composición caras II
Painting Sold
Juan De la Rica
Composición caras I
Painting
Juan De la Rica
Tenista 2
Painting Sold
Juan De la Rica
Couple 2
Painting Sold
Juan De la Rica
The visit
Painting
Juan De la Rica
Mujer con sombrero y gafas
Painting Sold
Juan De la Rica
The rape of Europe
Painting
Juan De la Rica
Desnudo con florero
Painting Sold
Juan De la Rica
La Polca
Painting
Juan De la Rica
Paisaje con mar
Painting
Juan De la Rica
Planta
Painting
Juan De la Rica
Jarrón con flores
Painting
Juan De la Rica
Metamorfosis
Painting
Juan De la Rica
Frutero con frutas
Painting
Juan De la Rica
Vanitas XXI
Painting Sold
Juan De la Rica
La jarra negra
Painting