David Agenjo (b. Madrid, 1977) is a painter who lives and works in London. In the context of contemporary figurative painting, he is best known for his compelling colour palette where personal colour arrangements and interpretations take his subjects beyond realism. Throughout his career he has evolved his practice from an intimate exploration of the human form, to a broader contextualisation of figures and, most recently, to still life paintings.
Technical processes play an important role in his practice: painstakingly he builds his compositions through the application of multiple layers of paint, a labour-intensive practice that creates a foundation for his visual narratives.
David’s latest paintings were first conceived when attending an artist-in-residence program in the complex frenetic city of Mumbai (Nov 2014 - Jan 15). He fixated attention on the city’s most marginal areas where local people and moreover piles of laundry and bags of rubbish became the first subjects from which he drew inspiration. The paintings were developed back in his London studio located in the heart of an industrial estate. Studies of adjacent domestic waste and commercial surplus acted as models for him and further complemented his body of work. His concern about sustainability and other social and ecological affairs give meaning to his depictions, reproducing endless manufacturing and consumerism, symptomatic of a globalized world.
Born and raised in Madrid, he studied painting and printmaking at the Circulo de Bellas Artes in Madrid (2000-2006) combining his artistic practice with his profession as a graphic designer before moving to Dublin in 2007 as an independent artist. Three years later he moved to London, establishing his studio in an artist community, where he still lives and works. He has worked with galleries in major cities such as Dublin, London and New York and his paintings and private commissions have been sold to collectors worldwide.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:
2022
- '141th Annual Exhibition' - Royal Ulster Academy / Ulster Museum, Belfast.
- 'Wales Contemporary' - The Waterfront Gallery - Milford Haven, Wales.
- 'Resurgence' - Kyo Gallery, Old Town Alexandria, US.
- '117th Annual Exhibition' - Victoria Art Gallery, Bath, UK
2021
- 'Figurativas 2021' - European Museum of Modern Art - MEAM, Barcelona.
- '140th Annual Exhibition' - Royal Ulster Academy / Ulster Museum, Belfast.
- 'Annual Open Art Exhibition' - The Royal Cambrian Academy, Conwy, Wales.
- 'Figurative Art Now' - The Federation of British Artists, Online - due to Covid-19
- '195th Annual Exhibition' - The Royal Scottish Academy, Online - due to Covid-19
2020
- ING Discerning Eye Exhibition, Online - due to Covid-19
2019
- 'A Summer Selection' The Doorway Gallery, Dublin.
- 'Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize 2019 - Shortlist exhibition. Mall Galleries, Pall Mall, London.
2018
- '250th Summer Exhibition' - Shortlist exhibition. Royal Academy of Arts, London.
- 'ArtWorks Open 2018' - Shortlist exhibition. Barbican Arts Group Trust, ArtWorks Project Space, London.
- 'Through Art, Resist & Recover' - Kyo Gallery, Old Town Alexandria, US.
- 'Mumbai Gallery Weekend 2018' - Studio 118, Mumbai.
2017
- 'HOME' - Exfed warehouse, London.
- 'Made of colours' - Hive Dalston, London.
- 'Conscious Journey' - Solo exhibition at D-contemporary Gallery, Mayfair, London.
- 'Fusion III' - The Cult House, Candid Arts Trust, London.
2016
- 'Art For the Underground' - London Underground, Liverpool Street Station, London.
- 'Winter Open Exhibition' - Oriel Queens Hall Gallery, Narberth, Wales.
- 'Random Artists' - ExFed Warehouse, London.
- 'Winter Group Show' - The Doorway Gallery, Dublin.
2015
- 'Edinburgh Art Fair' with The Doorway Gallery, Edinburgh.
- 'Open studios weekend 2015' - Rave'N'sail Studios, London.
- 'Hang out with us' - Norlington Road Studios, Leytonstone, London.
- 'Exhibition at Fox Williams' - Go figurative Gallery, Moorgate, London.
2014
- 'Twelve Painters' Paintings' - Go figurative Gallery, Hampstead, London.
- 'Searching for the greener grass' - Ravensdale Warehouse Studios, Open Studios, London.
- 'Someshta's Garden' - Vibe Gallery, London.
2013
- 'Feng Lin Shan Shui Art Show 2013' - Da Wang Culture Highland Art Centre, Shenzhen, China.
- 'The Affordable Art Fair NYC' with Blue Tomato Gallery, Metropolitan Pavilion, New York.
- 'The Affordable Art Fair' with Blue Tomato Gallery, Battersea Park, London.
- '100% NUDE' - Guerilla Galleries, The Daniel Libeskind Space, London.
2012
- 'Cultivation' - Cultivate Gallery, Vyner Street, London.
- 'Figure Fragments' - BOS 2012, The Coin Locker, Brooklyn, New York.
- 'Body Beautiful' - Porter Contemporary Gallery, Chelsea, New York.
2011
- 'Paralax Art Fair' - La Galleria, Royal Opera Arcade, Pall Mall, London.
- 'Red' - Cultivate Gallery, Vyner Street, London.
- 'Art @ 107' - Art & Escape Gallery, Fleet St, London.
- 'The Stinging Netil Art Mart' - London Fields, London.
2010
- 'Cross my art' - Art & Escape Gallery, King Cross, London.
- 'REAL Hampstead' - Go Figurative, St Stephen's, Hampstead, London.
- 'Contemporary Art Auction' held by Dominique STAL, Paris.
- 'Up & Down in Town' - Solo exhibition - Ormond Gallery, Dublin.
2009
- 'FAIM '09 Art Fair' - Palacio de Congresos, Madrid.
- 'Confronti' - Sette Palace, Orvieto, Italy.
- 'Summer Show' - TheBadArt Gallery, Dublin.
- 'Up & Down in Town' Solo exhibition - Smithfield Pop-up Show, Dublin.
2006
- 'BELLAS pARTES' - Solo exhibition - Artepolis Gallery, Madrid.
- 'Printmakers show' - Circulo de Bellas Artes, Madrid.
2004
- 'Life Drawing Show' - Circulo de Bellas Artes, Madrid.
