Esteban Vicente Exhibition Opens at La Laguna’s Cristino de Vera Foundation

The arrival of Esteban Vicente’s work in the Canary Islands is a landmark event for the region, offering a fresh look at one of the most celebrated Spanish painters of the 20th century. The exhibition, Esteban Vicente: Thresholds of Light, is now open at the Cristino de Vera Foundation-CajaCanarias Cultural Space at 18 San Agustín Street in La Laguna, where it will remain on display until February 28, 2027.

Presented by foundation president Humberto Orán and curator Ana Doldán—who also directs the Esteban Vicente Museum of Contemporary Art in Segovia—the exhibition follows the artist’s career chronologically. It highlights the transformation of Vicente (1903–2001) from a traditional figurative painter into a master of lyrical abstraction, where light and texture become the true subjects of his work.

A key turning point in this evolution was Vicente’s move to the United States. There, he was influenced by Cubism—particularly the work of Juan Gris—and later became part of the vibrant New York School. His involvement with American Abstract Expressionism introduced a sense of movement and energy to his paintings, though he never lost the distinct sensibility rooted in his Spanish heritage.

The collection features a wide range of works, including portraits, landscapes, collages, and abstract pieces. Curator Ana Doldán suggests that viewers should see these canvases not as reflections of the real world, but as "thresholds." Vicente’s work documents a lifelong search, gradually stripping away recognizable details to create an internal, independent pictorial experience.

The exhibition is open Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. It offers a rare opportunity to explore the work of an artist who successfully bridged the gap between European tradition and international modernism.