Miguel Sainz Ojeda, Animal Omen

Opera Gallery Madrid

16 January - 15 February 2025

Opera Gallery is delighted to present 'Animal Omen', the first solo exhibition by Spanish artist Miguel Sainz Ojeda at its Madrid location. Born in Madrid in 1993 and a graduate of Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Sainz Ojeda has spent the past decade captivating audiences across Europe and the United States with his bold and evocative paintings. In this latest exhibition, his work offers a fresh perspective on the interplay between the real and the imagined, exploring themes of identity, innocence, and the complexity of human experience.

Visiting Sainz Ojeda’s studio—an industrial space overlooking the expanse of Madrid—is a transformative experience. His canvases exude a vivacious energy that contrasts with the urban chaos outside, drawing viewers into a universe where the vibrant and the surreal collide. His paintings invite viewers to rediscover the world with a childlike sense of wonder, offering a glimpse into a world filled with masks, creatures, and enigmatic signs.

Sainz Ojeda's process begins with raw, spontaneous gestures—splashes of spray paint, sweeping charcoal lines, and bold strokes of colour. From this abstraction, figures emerge organically: mouths, eyes, and forms eager to express themselves. The result is a magical, phantasmagoric universe where the boundaries between figuration and abstraction blur. This dynamic approach reflects his search for spontaneity, emotional depth, and the unfinished—qualities that make his work both experimental and deeply personal.

Influenced by the raw expressiveness of street art, the artist incorporates the vivid colours and textures of urban life into his work, blending these with elements of Primitive and Povera Art, European pictorial traditions, and American Abstract Expressionism. His paintings oscillate between the innocent and the cruel, exploring the subconscious as a source of liberation and self-knowledge. Each piece is a visual dialogue, where playful rhythms and intense contrasts provoke both thought and emotion.

At its core, 'Animal Omen' is a meditation on human identity and experience. Through the use of masks and creatures, Sainz Ojeda reflects on the duality of our nature—our capacity for joy and creativity, as well as our tendency toward violence and social manipulation. His work critiques the illusions and prejudices that distort reality, urging us to embrace the freedom to define ourselves and connect on a deeper, universal level.

'Animal Omen' offers a rare opportunity to dive into the audacious and optimistic world of Miguel Sainz Ojeda. Through his incisive brushstrokes and evocative imagery, he invites visitors to see life in its purest form: a vibrant, spontaneous, and emotionally rich tapestry that transcends the everyday.