Sala Dalmau celebrates its 45th anniversary with Torres-García

Between the timeless walls of the Sala Dalmau, the past and the present merge in a continuous dialogue with art. On September 17, 2024, the gallery opened its doors to a unique exhibition, a celebration on a double occasion: the 150th anniversary of the birth of the brilliant artist Joaquín Torres-García and the 45th anniversary of Sala Dalmau itself. This exhibition is more than a simple retrospective, it is a profound tribute to a figure who has marked the history of art and who has been closely linked to the trajectory of the gallery since its beginnings.

With this solo exhibition by Torres-García, visitors are invited to take a journey through the artistic evolution of a master who, from the first decades of the 20th century, left an indelible mark on the world of art. From his nineteenth-century period in Catalonia, to his stay in Paris, and culminating in the constructivism that defined his last years, Sala Dalmau offers an opportunity to rediscover each creative stage of this multifaceted artist.

The exhibition not only focuses on his pictorial works, but also includes some of his "toys", didactic pieces that reflect Torres-García's more innovative and pedagogical side. These toys, designed to encourage creativity and critical thinking, become another example of his educational vocation, an aspect that was also manifested in the foundation of his famous Torres-García Workshop in Montevideo, where he taught an entire generation of Uruguayan artists to develop their own avant-garde.

'Conejo', Torres-García (1928)

Torres-García and Sala Dalmau share a history of connections that have been forged over the years. From the exhibitions dedicated to the historical avant-gardes, to monographic shows such as those of 1995 and 1998, the gallery has been a constant stage for making known and claiming the legacy of this unclassifiable artist. Now, with this new show, the gallery recovers that link to remember and celebrate the influence of a man who defied the artistic conventions of his time.

With almost half a century of life, Sala Dalmau has established itself as one of the dean's galleries on Carrer Consell de Cent. Founded in 1979 by Francesc Draper, his daughter Mariana Draper continues the legacy today with dedication, managing with passion and vision this space that was born in tribute to the legendary marcher Josep Dalmau. Dalmau, known for being the first to present artists such as Joan Miró or Salvador Dalí, was also Torres-García's dealer, a link that has endured over time and that now shines again with this commemoration.

This exhibition not only offers a glimpse into the artist's past, but also highlights the work of collectors who have generously donated works for the occasion. The Sala Dalmau project, faithful to its origins, has always been to recover artists who, for political or cultural reasons, had to emigrate or work outside of Spain, but who played an essential role in the avant-garde.

On this 45th anniversary, Sala Dalmau not only remembers its beginnings, but reaffirms itself as a point of reference in the artistic scene of Barcelona, a space where art, memory and history meet to weave new narratives . The Torres-García exhibition, available until October 31, is a reflection of the gallery's constancy and commitment to artists who have marked an era, and to a collection that has made it possible for their work last

Sala Dalmau al c/Consell de Cent.