Once introduced to the art of painting at the studio of Juan Bonafé (1901-1969) in La Alberca, Albacete went on to further hone his craft by studying Fine Arts and Architecture in Valencia and Madrid.
His early creations flirted with the intellectual pursuit of Conceptual Art and the bold and vibrant expression of Pop Art, ultimately culminating in a deliberate return to painting in the late 1970s. Embracing a distinct and definitive style heavily influenced by an exacting use of color and a systematic approach to brushwork, he held his premier solo exhibition at Galería Chys in Murcia in 1972.
One of Albacete’s distinct approaches to his art is his fondness for working in themed series, each of which he methodically explores. Notable among these series are those centered on bathers, the painter himself, the city of Vienna, and the mythological figure of Narcissus. In the mid-1980s, his utilization of structured geometric patterns gave way to a heightened emphasis on light and shadow, as well as an increased incorporation of symbolic motifs. While consistently drawing on figurative elements, the early 1990s saw a shift in Albacete’s focus as he delved into a more experimental and introspective exploration of the space within his paintings and the concepts that surround it.
In 1988, the Museo Español de Arte Contemporáneo hosted the first retrospective of Albacete’s work, which in subsequent years has become prized and preserved in esteemed collections and museums both in Spain and abroad.
www.ftn-books.com has the Barcelona Maeght exhibition catalog from 1993 now available.
