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Alexander Calder (Philadelphia, 1898 – New York, 1976). Son of a sculptor and a painter, in the mid-twenties, he studied in New York and in 1926 he moved to Paris, where he created the Cirque Calder, a complex work of art that attracted the attention of the Parisian avant-garde. In 1931 he created the first kinetic sculptures, moved by motors, which Marcel Duchamp called "mobiles". Calder soon abandons mechanical systems and works with suspended mobiles moved by air currents, called "stabiles" by Jean Arp. Calder returns to the United States in 1933, where he makes the first outdoor sculptures, with large-scale mobiles. In 1943, a major retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art in New York makes him one of the great contemporary artists of his country. In 1953 he returned to France where he focused his creation on commissions for large-scale works: Spirale (1958) for the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, Flamingo (1973) for the Federal Center Plaza in Chicago. Calder died in 1976, a few weeks after the opening of the major Calder's Universe retrospective at the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York.

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Antoni Tàpies i Puig, (Barcelona, 1923 - 2012) was a prominent Catalan artist renowned for his profound contributions to the field of contemporary art. Tàpies began his artistic journey at an early age and quickly established himself as a pioneer of the avant-garde movement. His distinctive style embraced elements of abstract expressionism, informalism, and mixed media, creating a unique visual language that challenged traditional artistic norms.

Tàpies explored profound themes of human existence, spirituality, and social consciousness through his artworks, often incorporating everyday objects and symbolic materials into his textured and tactile compositions. His work encompassed a wide range of mediums, including painting, sculpture, printmaking, and ceramics, and he was celebrated for his ability to convey emotional depth and introspection through his powerful and thought-provoking pieces. Throughout his career, Tàpies received numerous international accolades, and his work is part of the most prestigious museums in the world, solidifying his status as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.

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Antonio Saura (Huesca, 1930 – Cuenca, 1998) was a prominent Spanish painter and sculptor known for his profound and provocative works that explored themes of human suffering, anguish, and existentialism. Saura's artistic journey began with figurative expressionism before evolving into a distinctive style characterized by bold brushstrokes, distorted figures, and a haunting use of black and white. Drawing inspiration from artists like Francisco Goya and Pablo Picasso, Saura's oeuvre often delved into the depths of the human psyche, reflecting his own personal struggles and the sociopolitical climate of his time. Through his powerful visual language, Saura's art sought to confront and challenge viewers, leaving an indelible mark on the Spanish art scene and establishing him as a revered figure in modern art history.

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Eduardo Chillida (San Sebastian, 1924 – 2002) is known for his monumental abstract works. He began his career in 1943 studying architecture at the University of Madrid, but in 1947 he turned to drawing and sculpture and by 1948 had moved to Paris, then the world capital of the arts.

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Fernando Botero (Medillin, 1932– Mónaco, 2023) was a world-renowned Colombian painter and sculptor, best known for his distinctive artistic style known as Boterismo—characterized by exaggerated, voluminous figures and forms. Playful yet profound, his art explored themes of beauty, power, politics, and human nature, making him one of the most recognizable and influential Latin American artists of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Fernando Botero (Medillin, 1932– Mónaco, 2023) was a world-renowned Colombian painter and sculptor, best known for his distinctive artistic style known as Boterismo—characterized by exaggerated, voluminous figures and forms. Playful yet profound, his art explored themes of beauty, power, politics, and human nature, making him one of the most recognizable and influential Latin American artists of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Jean Dubuffet (El Havre, 1901– París, 1985) was a major French artist best known as the leading advocate of Art Brut. He challenged academic aesthetics by drawing inspiration from children’s drawings, outsider art, and non-Western cultures. Dubuffet expressive works that redefined postwar contemporary art.

Joan Miró (Barcelona, ​​1893 – Majorca, 1983). Joan Mirós work’s are the most universally recognized in contemporary art. Miró made a very significant contribution to 20th century art, with a systematic redefinition of what could be done on canvas and in the fields of sculpture, ceramics and engraving. He started in painting through the discovery of the landscape in Mont-roig del Camp (Tarragona). His first exhibition was in 1918 at the Sala Dalmau in Barcelona. In 1920 Miró went to Paris, introducing himself to the surrealist movement. After the Spanish Civil War, he returns to Palma de Mallorca, to Mont-roig and finally to Barcelona. In 1947 he moved to New York where he made contact with abstract expressionism and introduced the large format in his pictorial work. In 1956 he settled definitively in Palma de Mallorca, where he would work in a workshop designed by Josep Lluís Sert. In 1974 a major retrospective was dedicated to him at the Grand Palais in Paris and in 1975 the Fundació Joan Miró opened in Montjuic. Until his death, Miró continued to create and participate in numerous exhibitions around the world.

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Jordi Alcaraz (Calella, 1963) is a Catalan artist whose work merges sculpture, drawing, and installation to explore concepts of absence, transparency, and transformation. Rooted in classical traditions, his art pushes the boundaries of materiality using glass, ink, methacrylate, and mirrors. Through gestures, perforations, and reflections, he creates poetic spaces where the image is always on the verge of appearing or vanishing. Alcaraz has exhibited internationally and is featured in major collections such as MACBA, MFAH, and the Cisneros Fontanals Collection. His work resonates with surrealism and arte povera, yet remains profoundly unique.

Juana Francés (Alicante, 1924 – Madrid, 1990) studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando in Madrid. In 1953, she participated in the International Congress of Abstract Art organized by the International Summer University of Santander. If Francés’ early work can be characterized as largely figurative, though geometric and symbolic-laden, from the mid-1950s on, she immersed herself fully in the world of abstract painting and Informalism.

In February 1957, she co-founded the group El Paso together with the critic José Ayllón and the artists Rafael Canogar, Luis Feito, Manolo Millares, Manuel Rivera, Antonio Saura, Pablo Serrano, and Antonio Suárez. However, she quit the group that same year alongside a handful of other original members.

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Marria Pratts (Barcelona, 1988) is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice gives off an uninhibited and spontaneous spirit. Although Pratts studied Graphic Design at Escola Massana in Barcelona, she is primarily self-taught. Her exploration of various artistic mediums, including drawing, painting, sculpture, carpets, furniture, and fanzines, demonstrates her commitment to plastic experimentation. Using a vibrant and optimistic palette, Marria draws inspiration from elements found in her neighborhood in Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona).

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Niki de Saint Phalle (Neuilly-sur-Seine, 1930 - San Diego, 2002) was one of the most innovative, iconoclastic, and socially engaged artists of the mid-20th century. Throughout her prolific career, she developed a distinctive style and created a complex body of work with a profound sociopolitical dimension. She was also a multifaceted artist—she painted, sculpted, created prints and performances, and even experimented with film.

Óscar Domínguez (1906, Tenerife - 1957, Paris) was one of the most important Spanish surrealist artists.From 1948 he moved away from André Breton's movement and entered a more figurative world in which geometrical compositions become the main focus, and he started the stage called "Triple Trait".

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Pablo Picasso (Málaga, 1881 – Mougins, 1973) demonstrated exceptional artistic talent from a young age and went on to develop a revolutionary approach to art that transformed the course of modern art. His diverse body of work spans various artistic movements, including the Blue Period, Rose Period, and the groundbreaking Cubist movement, which he co-founded. Picasso's artistic brilliance, characterized by his bold experimentation with form, color, and perspective, shattered traditional artistic conventions and opened new possibilities for artistic expression. His artistic output encompassed paintings, sculptures, ceramics, drawings, and even stage sets for ballets. Picasso's relentless creativity and constant reinvention made him an icon of artistic innovation, leaving an indelible mark on the art world and inspiring generations of artists to come.

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Salvador Dalí (Figueres, 1904 - 1989) was a renowned Surrealist artist whose eccentricity and boundless creativity left an indelible mark on the art world. Dalí's works transcended traditional artistic boundaries, encompassing painting, sculpture, film, and even writing. His vivid and dreamlike imagery, filled with melting clocks, bizarre landscapes, and distorted figures, reflected his fascination with the unconscious mind and the irrational. Dalí's relentless pursuit of individuality and shock value made him a prominent figure within the Surrealist movement, showcasing his ability to merge reality with the fantastical. With his technical mastery, Dalí created a unique artistic universe that continues to captivate audiences worldwide, solidifying his place as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.

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