Antonio Santín mastering abstraction and texture through new paintings exhibition
Marc Straus Gallery is honored to present a new collection of paintings by Antonio Santín, a Madrid-born artist whose career has continuously redefined the boundaries of painting. This exhibition marks Santín’s seventh solo show with the gallery, underscoring a long-standing collaboration that reflects the evolution of his groundbreaking artistry. Trained initially as a sculptor, Antonio Santín transitioned into painting, infusing the medium with a distinct tactile and sculptural quality. His early figurative works gradually gave way to compositions dominated by intricate depictions of textiles and patterns.
Over time, his focus shifted entirely from traditional figuration to exploring the ornate details of carpets, which became a central motif. Borrowing exquisite designs, Santín initially outlined existing patterns, later enhancing them with his unique coloration and intricate embellishments. This process eventually led him to transcend replication, creating entirely invented compositions that elevate his works to new levels of intricacy and personal expression.
Antonio Santín’s technical mastery, achieved through years of refinement, plays a pivotal role in his creations. Employing a meticulous process, he layers paint in minute increments, using compressors and needles to achieve unparalleled precision. Rooted in his sculptural background, these layers evoke a sense of depth and texture, while his application of Renaissance-inspired shading techniques imbues his works with an illusion of folds and three-dimensionality. The result is a series of paintings that are both deeply abstract and visually astonishing, defying easy categorization.
While the clarity and realism of his carpet imagery might suggest alignment with representational art, Santín’s works remain firmly rooted in abstraction. Each mark—meticulously crafted by hand—reveals a distinct style characterized by tiny, looped, and punctilious strokes that are unmistakably his own. His works evoke comparisons to artists such as Joan Mitchell and Philip Guston, with their emphasis on mark-making as a fundamental form of expression. Yet, Santín’s approach is entirely singular, demonstrating a technical prowess and emotional resonance that set his paintings apart.
The artist’s international recognition is reflected in an impressive array of exhibitions at prestigious institutions, including solo shows at the Sharjah Art Museum and participation in group exhibitions at the Knoxville Museum of Art, the Nassau County Museum of Art, and the Ithra Museum. With upcoming showcases at The Boca Raton Museum and The Lehman College of Art, Santín continues to captivate audiences worldwide, leaving an indelible mark on contemporary painting.
All images courtesy of Antonio Santín, shared with permission
