Juan Antonio Aguirre

Juan Antonio Aguirre (Madrid, 1945–2016) is considered a unique defining factor of the New Generation, which marked a break with informalism and marked the emergence of Pop in Spain, as well as the post-Pop and New Geometry movements. He was a central figure in the Galería Amadis group, a group dedicated to promoting the most important artists of 1970s Spain, such as Carlos Alcolea, Carlos Franco, Luis Gordillo, Santiago Serrano, and José María Yturralde.

Aguirre's painting moves within the realm of figuration, sometimes influenced by naive art. He soon adopted a neo-constructivist style; a style that, under the influence of Bonnard, Matisse, and Munch, is characterized by vibrant colors and the depiction of blurred forms. His subjects include still lifes, which reflect his attention to the most mundane objects, and plastic art, interior landscapes, and figures that present references to autobiographical experiences. In 1999, the IVAM Valencian Institute of Modern Art held a retrospective of his career.

His work is part of museums and public collections such as the IVAM Valencian Institute of Modern Art (Valencia), MNCARS Reina Sofía National Art Center Museum (Madrid) or Patio Herreriano Museum of Contemporary Spanish Art (Valladolid).