The exhibition, titled Ramón Gaya. The Saved Reality, brings together 24 pieces created between 1923 and 2003, sourced from the artist's museum in Murcia. This initiative aims to settle a historical debt with a creator whose work, detached from trends, focused on European pictorial tradition and a constant meditation on the meaning of art.
“"An exceptional and counter-current itinerary about an artist who never allowed himself to be swept away by dominant trends."
The tour through the La Laguna gallery is not just a retrospective, but an invitation to delve into Gaya's thought, who conceived painting as a path to knowledge and fidelity to tradition. The exhibition allows visitors to follow the four major stages of his life, from his beginnings as a child prodigy in Murcia to his artistic maturity.
Early works reveal a young artist open to avant-garde movements, who exhibited in Paris at just 17 years old. However, it was that first trip abroad that led him to turn his gaze towards tradition, making the Prado Museum and the figure of Velázquez essential references. Against the rise of abstraction, Gaya defended a figurative, intimate, and reflective painting.
During the Second Republic, he participated in the Pedagogical Missions as director of the Circulating Museum, an experience that reinforced his vision of art as an educational tool. His exile to Mexico after the Civil War profoundly marked his life, leading him to develop the idea of the “poor man's museum,” a personal recreation of the great masters in his workshop. After his return to Europe, his work became more luminous and refined, and in 2002 he was awarded the Velázquez Plastic Arts Prize.
The exhibition takes on special significance by being held at the Cristino de Vera Foundation, as both artists shared a conception of art as a space for existential contemplation, far from market noise and trends. This initiative is part of a network of museums dedicated to a single creator, seeking to foster collaborations and project artistic heritage. As part of this exchange, the work of painter Cristino de Vera will travel to Murcia next May.
The exhibition is complemented by portraits, references to key figures in Ramón Gaya's life, and a selection of publications. Additionally, a program of parallel activities has been organized, including guided tours, family workshops, and meetings with specialists.
