Public art in Madrid

Madrid is a city full of artistic treasures, take a stroll through its streets and you’re sure to come across some spectacular murals and impressive sculptures. All are created by passionate artists who want to share their artistic sensibility. In this article, we take a look at the must-see artworks of public art in Madrid.

 

1. Castellana open-air sculpture museum

2. Chimpanzee

3. Monument to Federico García Lorca

4. Day and Night

5. Lucky Frog

6. Julia

 

Castellana open-air sculpture museum

Situated under the viaduct linking Juan Bravo and Eduardo Dato streets, the Castellana open-air sculpture museum showcases abstract Spanish sculptures. In addition, the various urban elements surrounding the sculptures, such as bridges and roads, create a harmonious whole in which the sculptures blend in completely. Actually, artists created all the sculptures between 1937 and 1986, making them the precursors of modern art in Madrid.”

 

Chimpanzee

Okuda San Miguel and Bordalo II created the Chimpanzee in the heart of Madrid. This impressive mural is a masterpiece of the street art in Madrid. However, we can notice that the face of the Chimpanzee is divided in two parts. In fact, the first represents the monkey with geometrical shapes and different colors. Whereas, the other is made with recycled materials such as steel which gives it relief.

 

Monument to Federico García Lorca

The bronze statue is situated in the inferior part of the Santa Ana space. The monument is erected in May, 24th 1986 celebrating the 50th anniversary of the death of the poet Frederic García Lorca. Additionally, Miguel Narros, the theatre director at the time, requested the construction of this monument in front of the theatre referring to the poet who was also a famous playwrite of the 20th century and who wrote some of his artworks in this theatre. Today, this statue is a symbol of Madrid and atract thousands of tourists each year.

 

Day and Night

You have maybe noticed the big baby faces in Madrid outside the Atocha Station? These 3-metre bronze sculptures are the work of Spanish artist Antonio López García. In fact, the artist was inspired by the face of his daughter, Carmen, when she was just 18 months old. Moreover, these giant baby faces represent the day and the night because one of them has its eyes opened (the day) and the other closed (the night).

Then, the artist did not randomly choose the location of the sculptures. Indeed, this station has played an important role in the sculptor’s history. At the age of 13 years old, Antonio López García arrived in Madrid from the Atocha station to study art. So, he decided to install these original sculptures here as a reminder of where his life as an artist began.

 

Lucky Frog

Franco’s dictatorial regime did not authorise gambling. As a consequence, after his death, a lot of Casinos born and the Big Frog was built as a symbol of the legalisation of this type of games. Furthermore, the frogs represent the luck in several cultures which bring richness and prosperity. Actually, the frogs are always near water which is crucial for survival.

As a result, in 2014, the Casino Grande created the Lucky Frog in the centre of Madrid in front of their building to wish good luck to anyone who came to see it.

 

Julia

Jaume Plensa, the famous sculptor, created the impressive 12-meter sculpture, Julia. Moreover, this artist made the artwork from polyester resin and white marble dust and placed it in the Plaza de Colón in December 2018. Besides, for Jaume Plensa, this woman is the perfect representation of the “tenderness, harmony and silence”. Indeed, all the Catalan sculptor’s female sculptures have their eyes closed, inviting introspection and concentration on inner beauty.

 

A final brushstroke

Finally, the public art in Madrid brings the city to life and cannot be reduced to the one presented here. There are more than a dozen other masterpieces waiting to be photographed and admired.

Madrid is the destination to don’t miss for all art lovers!