Miquel Barceló

Miquel Barceló in front of Popera, 2015, mixed media on canvas

studio visit in Paris

interview by DONATIEN GRAU and OLIVIER ZAHM
photography by OLIVIER ZAHM
all artworks copyright Miquel Barceló

 

Miquel Barceló, born in Mallorca, is one of the world’s foremost painters. His work feels as free and inspirational today as it was in the ’80s, when he became one of the leading figures of the postmodern return to painting.

Miquel Barceló escaped fame, money, and success; he escaped New York and Paris. He lived for years in Mali, spent as much time as possible in prehistoric caves like Chauvet, and never stopped his journey — although he keeps a massive studio in the center of Paris.

His work challenges all recent art categories and definitions. It’s a constant search for what could be a primordial gesture, what could be shared with blind people,…