Bio

Elena García de la Fuente was born in Madrid in 1975 and raised in Málaga. She has lived and worked in London since 1999. She completed an MA in Contemporary Art at Sotheby’s Institute in London in 2001. She studied Fine Art at the Universidad Complutense in Madrid, before finishing her studies at Leeds Metropolitan University in 1997 with an ERASMUS/exchange programme. Her work has been selected to be part of the exclusive ‘El Museo Living & Experience Club’, the only luxury hotel museum in Spain. Her paintings will hang in one of only 30 apartments also containing original mid-20th Century International Style Modern Furniture by the likes of Le Corbusiers, Jean Prouvé, Charlotte Perriand, and others. In 2018 Elena has been preselected for the John Moores Painting Prize, one the the most prestigious painting prizes in the UK. Also in 2018 she was preselected for the RA Summer Exhibition with Grayson Perry as the curator in the 250th anniversary, and the Jackson’s Open Painting Prize. In 2017 Elena exhibited in a solo show ‘To See or Not to See’ at The Last Supper in London and took part in The Other Art Fair NY at the Brooklyn Expo Centre, New York. In 2016 she was shortlisted for the ‘Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize’ and exhibited at the ‘RA Summer Exhibition’ in London. In 2015 she was shortlisted for both ‘The Winsor & Newton Painting Prize’ and the ‘National Open Art Competition’, and took part in her first group museum show ‘Beauty’ at MAD Antequera, Málaga, curated by Fernando Francés. ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... Elena García de la Fuente nació en Madrid (1975) y se crió en Málaga. Ha vivido y trabajado en Londres desde 1999. Estudió Bellas Artes en la Universidad Complutense de Madrid, antes de terminar sus estudios en la Universidad Metropolitana de Leeds en 1997 con un programa de intercambio ERASMUS. Terminó una Maestría en Arte Contemporáneo en el Sotheby's Institute de Londres en 2001. Elena ha participado en numerosas exposiciones en España, Londres, Nueva York, Berlin y Salzburgo. En el 2017 tuvo su primera exposición individual en Londres titulada, ‘To See or Not to See’, en la galería The Last Supper y expuso por primera vez en Nueva York en la feria de artistas independientes, The Other Art Fair. En el 2015, una de sus pinturas fue seleccionada para su primera colectiva en un museo, 'Beauty' en MAD Antequera, exposición comisariada por Fernando Francés. En el 2018 su obra ha sido preseleccionada para el John Moores Prize, el concurso de pintura más prestigioso del Reino Unido, preseleccionada para la Royal Academy Summer Exhibition con Grayson Perry como comisario de la exposición en su 250 aniversario y preseleccionada para Jackson’s Open Painting Prize. En 2016, Elena fue seleccionada para el Premio ‘Lynn Painter-Stainers’ y seleccionada para exhibir en la prestigiosa Royal Academy Summer Exhibition en Londres. En 2015 ha sido seleccionada tanto para el premio de pintura ‘Winsor & Newton’ y ‘National Open Art Competition’.



Artist statement

My work explores behaviour inside the museum. When visiting exhibitions I look for interesting scenes and photograph moments of playfulness and spontaneity. I later use these photos as source material for my paintings, referencing how we look and interact with the world around us, touching themes such as the way we view art through modern technology or how the younger audiences relate to the artworks. I’m mostly interested in reflecting spaces of quietness and stillness that hold a poetic element, inviting us to meditate and create our own narrative. I also aim to include a component of humour or irony either in the final image or in the title of the work. The moment the audience faces my paintings is important to me. When they realise they’ve become part of the work and that they’re probably being observed by an audience. ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. Mi trabajo explora el comportamiento dentro del museo. Cuando visito exposiciones, busco escenas interesantes y fotografío momentos espontáneos. Luego uso estas fotos como inspiración para mis pinturas, haciendo referencia a cómo nos vemos e interactuamos con el mundo que nos rodea, tocando temas como la forma en que vemos el arte a través de la tecnología moderna o cómo las audiencias más jóvenes se relacionan con las obras de arte. Me interesa reflejar momentos como parados en el tiempo que tengan un elemento poético y un componente de humor o ironía que nos invite a meditar y crear nuestra propia narrativa. El momento en que la audiencia enfrenta mis pinturas es importante para mí. Cuando se dan cuenta de que se han convertido en parte del trabajo y de que probablemente sean observados por una audiencia.



'The Museum as Subject' by Ana Sofia Contrucci

Have you ever taken the time to observe how people act at the museum? We talked to Elena García de la Fuente, Spanish artist based in London, and found out a bit more about her exciting creative process. Elena is currently working on a series of oils that derive from her trips to museums. She doesn’t pay attention only to the art but rather, she is curious to investigate the way in which we look at it. This exciting new project started when Elena decided to experiment by recreating situations she captured in photographs during a museum trip with her two young daughters. She started by creating a series of small-scale gouache works, to great acceptance from the public. It is at that point at which she took on the great challenge of shifting mediums–from acrylic to oil paint. Before investigating gallery situations, Elena mainly focused on colorful renderings of people interacting in parks. Elena’s work comments on the way we interact with art through institutional mediation. She explores certain codes of behaviour inside the museum in a playful manner. The human aspect of the gallery visit is explored with outstanding craft and it comes at perfect timing, for now more than ever the role of institutional practice is being put into question. Author: Ana Sofia Contrucci Posted on October 12, 2015 by londonvisualarts

CV

AWARDS

2018

Preselected John Moores Painting Prize and Jackson’s Open Painting Prize.

2016
Shortlisted for Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize.

2015
Shortlisted for National Open Art Competition.
Shortlisted for Winsor & Newton Painting Prize.

2014
Selected ING Discerning Eye Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London.
New Creatives Market Grant, partially funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

2007
Preselected for 2007 Pintores Noveles (Premios Fivars), Alicante.

2005
Prince’s Trust Funding Award.
3rd place, Art Interview 3rd quarterly International Online Artist Competition.

EXHIBITION HISTORY

Solo

2017
To See or Not to See.  The Last Supper gallery, London.

2005/06
Elena García de la Fuente. fiveseventen, London.

1996
Elena García de la Fuente. Municipal Gallery, Marbella.

 

Selected Group Shows

2019
Open Studio (OCT), Delta House, London.

2018
Open Studio (Oct), Delta House, London.
Contemporary Andalusia, Wadström Tönnheim, Marbella.
Open Studio Show (May) , Wimbledon Art Studios, London.

2017
Open Studio Show (May) , Wimbledon Art Studios, London.
The Other Art Fair, Brooklyn Expo Center, New York.

2016
ING Discerning Eye exhibition, Mall Galleries, London.
The Other Art Fair, Old Truman Brewery, London.
Libro de bolsillo, Cortijo de Miraflores, Marbella.
Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize, Guildford House Gallery, London.
Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts, London.
Open Studio Show (May) , Wimbledon Art Studios, London.
Beauty, Centro Exposiciones Ayto. de Benalmádena, Málaga.
The Other Art Fair, Victoria House, London.
Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize, Mall Galleries, London.

2015
Wimbledon Art Studios, April Open Show, London.
National Open Art Exhibition, Royal College of Art, London.
Beauty, curated by Fernando Francés, La Térmica, Málaga.
The Other Art Fair, Truman Brewery, London.
Beauty, curated by Fernando Francés, MAD. Antequera, Málaga.
Wimbledon Art Studios, April Open Show, London.
The Other Art Fair, Victoria House, London.
Twelve, Menier Gallery, London.

2014
Discerning Eye Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London.
Wimbledon Art Studios, November Open Show, London.
The Other Art Fair, The Truman Brewery, London.
Wimbledon Art Studios, April Open Show, London.
The Other Art Fair, Ambika P3, London.
Sheringdale’s Art Project, Southfields Gallery, London.

2013
Wimbledon Art Studios, November Open Show, London.
The Other Art Fair, The Truman Brewery, London
I Love You Because, A-Side B-Side Gallery, London.
Wimbledon Art Studios, May Open Show, London.

2012
Wimbledon Art Studios November Open Show, London.
Wimbledon Art Studios May Open Show, London.

2011
Invest in futures. Natural History Museum, London.

2010
Muerto de Amor, MP Birla Millenium Art Gallery, London.

2008
Prince’s Trust 25th Anniversary. Air Gallery, London.
Mothers. Sartorial Contemporary Art, London.
Mediterraneo: A Sea That Unites. The Italian Cultural Institute, London.
Invest in Futures. Old Billingsgate, London.

2007
SAL, Spanish Artists in London. Instituto Cervantes, London.
2007 Pintores Noveles (Premios Fivars), Galeria Fivars, Alicante
Art Interview International Award Exhibition. Gallery twenty-four, Berlin.

2006
For Better for Worse, Saint John’s Wood, London.
Esquilos Lejanos, Museo de Historia de Zaragoza, Spain.
London Art and Design Show. British Library’s Piazza, London.
Sweat & Sour. Working Men’s Club, London.
Prelude. Spitafields Market. New Development Area, London.
Sal (Spanish Artists in London). Viva España 2006, Olympia, London.

2005
Night on Earth. Curated by Harry Pye. Oxford House, London.
Inspired Art Fair, The Bridge, London.
Summer Exhibition. Waterloo Gallery, London.
Creative Britain 2005. DLA Piper, London.
KPMG Business Showcase. KPMG, London.

2004
On The Wall. Olympia, London.
Mothers. Oxford House, London. (travelling to Edinburgh)

2003
Elena García de la Fuente. Viva España 2003, Olympia, London. 2000
Grabado en Nerja. La Sala de Arte, Nerja

1999
Marbella, Pintada y Grabada. Municipal Gallery, Marbella.
New Year. New Work. Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds, UK.
Degree Show. Leeds Metropolitan University, UK.

1997
Salzburg 1997. Internationale Sommerakademie fur Bildende Kunst, Salzburg, Austria.
III Exposición de Jóvenes Pintores. Esquina del Bernabeu, Madrid.
Agosto Cultural. Asociación Cultural Trapiche de Guadaiza, San Pedro de Alcántara,
Málaga Fondos del Ayuntamiento. City Council, Culture Department, Marbella.
Jóvenes Artistas. Municipal Art Gallery, San Pedro de Alcántara, Málaga.