STOA GALLERY
ESTEPONA, SPAIN

STOA Gallery

STOA Gallery opened in 2006. Ever since the beginning, the gallery has focused on supporting emerging artists, some of which did not any expository experience at all. Over the years STOA continued with some of them, but also started to represent more established and mid-career artists with a significant international curriculum. The STOA family now has a place for all, and in order to be able to help their careers more consistently, the gallery’s exhibition program focuses on curated solo exhibitions.

Since 2014, the gallery has taken part in several international art fairs each year, such as VOLTA Basel and New York, PULSE, Positions Berlin, Seattle Art Fair, KIAF in South Korea, Art New York, Context Miami

At VOLTA New York 2022, STOA Gallery presents a dialogue between the urban landscapes of two Spanish painters: Miguel Angel Iglesias and Conchi Alvarez, both of them with particular urban vision, despite sharing many elements. The most significant similarity is the absence of human beings.

Both creators have the spirit of the anchorite, needing solitude in order to create. The cities are empty since this exercise of reliving, dreaming or scrutinizing the city masks endeavours to ones inner self, as well as certain fear of socialization.

Both break from monochromes and grisailles, creating urban spaces bathed in bright, optimistic colors. Miguel Angel in his perspectives models the buildings to channel his emotions and encourage us to fly over his ideal city. Conchi digs the grey walls to discover with light and color, the essence of the city. Each painting is an amulet, but also, the act of painting is a desire to recover the seduction between the city and the artist.