TEA Tenerife to Open Permanent Óscar Domínguez Exhibition
A permanent exhibition space dedicated to surrealist painter Óscar Domínguez will open this year at TEA Tenerife Espacio de las Artes, showcasing its extensive collection of his work.
Óscar Domínguez, a surrealist painter from the Canary Islands, will have a permanent exhibition space at TEA Tenerife Espacio de las Artes starting this year. This was announced by Sergio Rubira, the artistic director of the venue.
The goal of this new room is to permanently showcase Domínguez's art. TEA already holds the "Óscar Domínguez and Surrealism Collection," which includes fifty pieces covering every phase of his artistic journey.
This collection traces his career from his early 1930s works, influenced by Dalí (like La bola roja from 1933 and Le dimanche from 1935), through his cosmic paintings (Los platillos volantes from 1939 and El cometa from 1940). It also features his Picasso-inspired pieces from the 1940s (Mujer sobre el diván from 1942), leading up to his unique triple-stroke technique and the informalist style seen in his later works (Delphes from 1957).
The collection also includes Ouverture or Paris (1936), an assemblage piece considered one of his most iconic. This work reflects Domínguez's fascination with Paris and the symbols of the modern avant-garde world of the 1930s. A significant part of the collection is dedicated to decalcomania, a technique Domínguez invented and developed from 1934 onwards, sometimes collaborating with surrealism historian Marcel Jean.
This news was shared during a press conference outlining TEA's artistic program for the year, which features ten exhibitions. José Carlos Acha, the Councillor for Culture and Museums of the Cabildo de Tenerife, and Sergio Rubira, TEA's artistic director, presented the program.
Sergio Rubira also mentioned that the program for 2026 will include exhibitions by artists such as Cabello/Carceller, Cándido Camacho, Pérez y Requena, Irene Kopelman, Pepa Izquierdo, and José Aguiar. The program also plans for the second TEA Contemporary Biennial. This exhibition will draw from the museum's collection and the Conca gallery's fund, focusing on the La Laguna art scene of the 1970s. Additionally, there will be a major group exhibition inspired by the writings of anthropologist Fernando Estévez.
José Carlos Acha reviewed the year 2025, describing it as when TEA Tenerife Espacio de las Artes "reaffirmed its role as a public space and a hub for contemporary culture." In 2025, TEA welcomed a total of 287,824 visitors. Its exhibition halls alone saw 140,133 visitors, an increase of 8,228 people from the previous year.
A highlight of the year was the exhibition Rebeldía y disciplina. Una posible historia de los grupos de artistas de Canarias a partir de la colección de TEA (Rebellion and Discipline: A Possible History of Artist Groups in the Canary Islands from the TEA Collection). This show was a big hit with the public, attracting 37,979 visitors.
Beyond its galleries, TEA was a "hotbed of cultural activity," hosting 271 events, including performances, presentations, and conferences, which drew 15,565 attendees.