Jesus Cuenca
Key points
Spanish artist born in Barcelona in 1952.
Complete academic training at the best art schools in Barcelona.
Emotional figurative painting , inspired by nature, memory and aesthetics.
Non-mimetic work: landscapes and forms suggested, never copied.
Work rich in layers, textures and colors , evoking harmony and introspection.
Artistic references : Maurice de Vlaminck, acknowledged Fauvist influence.
In the contemporary Spanish artistic landscape, few artists embody the harmony between nature, memory and emotion as accurately as Jesús Cuenca . Born in 1952 in Barcelona, Cuenca has been exploring a unique pictorial path for several decades: a sensitive, poetic, never mimetic figuration , which draws on the real environment to create an emotional reality.
ÁRBOLES DE MAYO / 1 (2021), Jesús Cuenca, Acrylic on Canvas, 46x55 cm
Trained in the greatest Barcelona institutions—Escola Massana, Escola Llotja, Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Barcelona—Cuenca has a solid academic foundation , which he transcends to create a work of rare freedom. For him, the landscape is not a reproduction, but an inner echo , a visual vibration where memories, sensations and atmospheres overlap.
A work between abstraction, memory and nature
"Árboles de Mayo / 1" (2021) is a luminous example of his ability to evoke nature without freezing it. This painting, from the MAYO series, immerses us in a world where trees become a pretext for a formal research on color, texture, light . The layers of paint respond to each other, overlap, revealing layers of meaning like so many buried memories. The gaze wanders, between the tension of the black lines and the softness of the tones. Nature, here, is felt, not described.
SUPERPOSICIÓN 6 (2017), Jesús Cuenca, Acrylic on Paper, 100x70 cm
In another emblematic series, SUPERPOSICIONES , and particularly in "Superposición 6" (2017) , Cuenca plays with contrasts. He contrasts abstract backgrounds with floral forms, without ever giving in to pure figuration. The result? Vibrant compositions, between geometry, matter and suggestion , where each spot evokes a tree, a flower, a fragment of memory. The influence of the Fauvists, like Maurice de Vlaminck, is palpable—not as a model, but as a respectful dialogue between eras.
A painting that stands the test of time
Jesús Cuenca's work captivates with its ability to transcend fashion and offer an intimate and universal vision of the world. His painting is not trendy: it is timeless. It is this rare quality that gives his work real power in today's art world. In a context saturated with digital images and instantaneous narratives, Cuenca invites us to slow down, to feel, to contemplate.
This subtle link between nature, culture and memory, this way of summoning the past without nostalgia but with emotion, creates a depth that appeals to both knowledgeable amateurs and collectors in search of meaning.
PAISAJE INTUITIVO 1 (2016), Jesús Cuenca, Acrylic on Canvas, 60x60 cm
Why pay attention to Jesus Cuenca today?
To be interested in the work of Jesús Cuenca is to open a door onto a rich, coherent, evolving universe , where each series extends a sensitive reflection on our relationship to the natural world and to time. It also means accompanying an artist who, with discretion, constructs a dense and profound work , sheltered from the effects of fashion.
His career, his avowed influences, his mastery of techniques, and above all, his sincere artistic commitment make him a unique voice in contemporary Spanish art. Jesús Cuenca paints what cannot be said, but what everyone can feel.
FAQ – Jesus Cuenca
What style of painting does Jesús Cuenca practice?
He works on an emotional and poetic representation, inspired by nature, without any realistic aim.
Do his works represent landscapes?
Yes, but in a suggested way: landscapes are an emotional basis, not an exact reproduction.
What is the place of color in his work?
Color is central. It structures emotion, evokes light, memories, and nature.
Is his work recognized?
Yes, particularly for its depth, its artistic coherence and its unique visual signature.
Nicolas Sarazin
