Guillermo Pérez Villalta (b. 1948, Tarifa, Cádiz) trained initially in architecture before turning fully to painting, emerging in the 1970s as a leading figure of Madrid’s New Figuration. His practice played a pivotal role in shaping Spain’s post-Franco artistic renewal and the trajectory of contemporary art during this period.
Distinguished by a sophisticated synthesis of pictorial and architectural languages, Pérez Villalta’s work draws on Baroque and Mannerist traditions, later developing into a refined neo-Mannerism. Geometric rigor, mythological and symbolic iconography, and an exploration of light, space, and void converge in complex, often labyrinthine compositions that reconcile classical structure with contemporary sensibility.
His work has been presented in numerous solo and group exhibitions, including at Galería Fernández-Braso and in dialogue with artists such as Cristino de Vera and Xavier Valls. He has participated in international art fairs including ARCOmadrid and ARCOlisboa. Museum presentations include the Museo Reina Sofía, the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Barcelona, and the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris, as well as the Bienal de São Paulo. His work is held in major public collections and has been featured in leading international art publications, consolidating his position as a key reference in contemporary Spanish art.
Guillermo Pérez Villalta
