Albert Bonet

Winner of the International Painting Prize in the Realism category at the latest edition of the FIABCN (Barcelona International Art Fair), Albert Bonet's work is characterized by an acid social criticism inspired by his closest surroundings. Through this interpretation of the world around him, this young artist shows both conceptual and technical maturity, which interferes with his work by playing with POP themes and with a markedly realistic style.

Artistically, he has been trained at the Barcelona Academy of Art. He has been selected in the DKV Young Art Contest ''Fresh Art'', where he was awarded an honorable mention at the Polytechnic University of Valencia (2015). This promising artist has two individual exhibitions to his credit, the last one last November at the Mutuo Gallery in Barcelona. He now exhibits for the first time in Art Madrid at the hands of Inéditad Galería (Barcelona).

Interview:

Tell us about your creative process

My creative process always starts with an idea, which I can come up with while walking down the street or in the bathroom of my colleague's house doing my business, and then I mature that idea for a few weeks, giving it shape, sketching a lot, and then I meet up with models, who are always people around me, my colleagues or people who are close to me, I do a photo session with them and then I edit those photos until I make a photographic montage that's quite close to the idea I had initially, always taking it to my own territory, adding social criticism, which, given the state of things in the world, is a lot of work. The last step is to paint in oils, give it shape, take the oils and lock yourself up at home until the idea comes out.

Albert Bonet

1984, 2022

Oil on canvas

162 x 130cm

What are you working on at the moment?

Right now I'm currently working on the piece I have behind me, which is a painting that I'm going to present at Art Madrid'22 with the gallery Inéditad, and the truth is that it's been quite a challenge because I have to finish it on time and I've locked myself up at home to paint for seven or eight hours a day until it's ready. Otherwise, it won't arrive in time for the catalogue and I have to make sure it gets there. Apart from that, this year is packed with a few urban art festivals with huge graffiti, a few exhibitions in a number of places. I'll keep you posted. There are several commissions for paintings, so the year is off to a great start, full of energy. Looking forward to it.

What do you expect from your participation in Art Madrid?

Exhibiting at Art Madrid is a dream come true for me. I've been locked up at home for a long time, mentally beating myself up, painting all day long, and to be able to take my work out of Barcelona for me is already a huge dream come true. It fills me with enthusiasm and energy to continue painting and I hope to give visibility to my work, above all outside Barcelona, and step by step, to be able to make a living from it.

Albert Bonet

La Duquesa de Sants, 2021

Oil on canvas

81 x 59cm

What inspires you when creating?

When it comes to creating, what inspires me most is my surroundings, all my surroundings. The places I go to, the objects I use every day in my house, my friends, my mates' houses, the city where I live, the cities I go to most frequently, everything that surrounds me. My everyday life is what inspires me when I create.

You are a multidisciplinary artist who started out in graffiti and tattooing. What have these two disciplines contributed to your work as a painter?

Graffiti, tattooing and painting are artistic facets that complement each other perfectly because you can apply concepts from each of them to the other. In the end they all have an individual magic that fills me a lot and I never want to stop doing any of them.

Albert Bonet participates for the first time in Art Madrid with Inéditad gallery, along side with Jaime Sancorlo, Jordi Diaz Alàma, Lautaro Oliver, Núria Farré y Raúl Álvarez Jiménez.

Lil Blanc

CONVERSATIONS WITH MARISOL SALANOVA. INTERVIEW PROGRAM. ART MADRID’25

Lil Blanc (Madrid, 1993) began by experimenting with textures, gradually evolving toward gradients and exploring the transition from one color to another. This led her to a form of abstraction that expresses intense emotions. Her artistic journey started with a focus on high-gloss finishes, but the structure of her paintings has grown increasingly significant, transforming each into a nearly sculptural piece. The gentle gradations of color in her canvases evoke sunset skies, and her intent to capture that fleeting moment stems from a personal experience watching a summer sunset. Her work is not only observed but also experienced, inviting reflection on time, transience, and space. A perfectionist by nature, she adheres to the philosophy that less is more—a legacy of her architectural background. Without artifice, she crafts stories that are not immediately evident, embedding layers of meaning within each piece.

Touch the Sky. Mixed media on canvas with a high-gloss epoxy finish. 2024. 100 x 100 cm.

What role does experimentation play in your creative process?

For me, experimentation is innate and natural. Being in constant production generates movement and a flow of ideas. I started with more organic works where textures took center stage, eventually shifting toward gradients and high-gloss finishes, each step driven by the pursuit of perfecting my technique. No two works are alike; in fact, there is always a continuous search to create something new and different.

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Who are your references?

Having studied architecture instead of fine arts gives me a different set of influences, which certainly shapes my creative approach. I’ve always been inspired by Mies van der Rohe’s "less is more," the color palette of SelgasCano’s Serpentine Pavilion, and the fantastical creations of the Archigram group. Additionally, social media connects me with contemporary artists. For instance, I admire Nick Thomm’s XXL high-gloss pieces, “onekean_” for his gradients, and C. J. Hendry for her mastery of colored pencil.

Kill Bill. Mixed media on canvas with a high-gloss epoxy finish. 2024. 100 x 100 cm.

What is the most recurring internal dialogue in your creative dynamic?

I rarely listen to music while working; I prefer silence, as it helps me think. My most frequent dialogue is with the piece I’m creating—I think about how to convey its story and the words that will bridge the connection with the viewer. I also anticipate potential questions and draft responses. In fact, I invent dialogues about the piece, which influence my process; if something contradicts the message I want to convey, I revise the work itself.

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How would you like your work to be perceived?

Artistically, I want my pieces to bring joy to people, to warm spaces, fill rooms with color, and leave a noticeable void in their absence. I want the gloss to reflect the happenings of a room and for the gradients to harmonize with natural light, evoking balance and serenity. On the other hand, I strive for the highest quality and perfection. From the first step to the last, I meticulously oversee every detail. I’m a perfectionist, and my goal is for the viewer to sense this simply by contemplating the work—for the piece to speak for itself.

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What technical challenges do you currently face?

The second part of the process presents the greatest difficulties. Achieving a flawless high-gloss finish requires extreme precision, attention to every detail of the process chain, respecting timing, and turning an artistic endeavor into something almost chemical. Moreover, working with large formats up to three meters adds to the complexity. Yet, when I see the final result, it’s all worth it.

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