La Regenta Art Center Hosts Retrospective Exhibition for Artist Juan Pedro Ayala

The work of Juan Pedro Ayala (Tenerife, 1972–2019) is back in the spotlight with In Memoriam, a new retrospective exhibition at the La Regenta Art Center in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Opening this Friday at 8:30 p.m. and running until May 30, the exhibition highlights the career of an artist who famously worked outside the mainstream art scene.

This retrospective marks an important institutional recognition for Ayala, whose work uniquely blended botanical themes with an exploration of the human body. Throughout his career, he earned prestigious honors, including the 2010 Santa Cruz de Tenerife Biennial of Plastic Arts prize and the 2013 Excellens award from the Royal Canary Academy of Fine Arts. His pieces are now held in major collections, including those of TEA, CAAM, and the Government of the Canary Islands.

The exhibition opening was attended by Deputy Minister of Culture Horacio Umpiérrez, center director Alejandro Vitaubet, and curator Carlos Díaz-Bertrana. The event also marked the launch of a new book on the artist, part of the Canary Islands Artists Library series. Written by art historian Dalia de la Rosa, the monograph provides a critical look at the evolution of Ayala’s distinctively expressionist style.

To help visitors engage with Ayala’s work, the center has organized a series of educational programs. These include guided tours titled Another Look (April 22) and GuiArte (May 20), as well as family-friendly sessions like the tour on April 10 and the Art as a Family workshop on May 29. Those interested in attending can register through the center’s website. These initiatives reflect the regional government’s ongoing effort to make contemporary island art more accessible to the public.