This exhibition highlights how Francisco Durrio and his contemporaries introduced modern artistic currents to the Basque region between 1880 and 1920. Featuring painting, sculpture, and delicate metalwork, the collection honors a pioneering generation of artists who traveled to Paris. Learn about their creative relationships with major figures of modern art and their lasting impact.
Read curatorial context and practical visitor information for Francisco Durrio and his Artistic Circle. Paris, 1880–1920 at Michel Mejuto Gallery in Bilbao
This exhibition explores the work of Francisco Durrio and his contemporaries who were active in Paris between 1880 and 1920. Through a selection of 28 works including painting, sculpture, and metalwork, the show highlights how these pioneers introduced modern artistic currents to the Basque region.
The exhibition brings together 28 works encompassing painting, etching, sculpture, and delicate metalwork, such as sculpted brooches and buckles. It honors a generation of pioneering artists—including Francisco Durrio, the Zubiaurre brothers, Francisco Iturrino, Darío de Regoyos, Paul Gauguin, Alberto Arrue, and Anselmo de Guinea—who laid the foundations for the modern art scene in Bilbao. By moving against the conservative aesthetic tastes of their time, these artists helped bridge the gap between traditional practices and modern innovation. Central to the exhibition is the story of how these artists established the Basque Artists' Association and organized the first modern art exhibitions in Spain. Supported by local patrons and scholarships from the Provincial Council of Biscay, they traveled to Paris, where they built lasting creative relationships and friendships with major figures such as Matisse, Picasso, Modigliani, and Pissarro. The exhibition serves as a tribute to their resilience in the face of institutional misunderstanding and their lasting impact on the development of modern art on the Iberian Peninsula.
No specific ticketing information is provided; visitors are invited to view the exhibition details on the gallery's website or download the exhibition catalogue directly from the page provided by the Michel Mejuto Gallery. Please contact the gallery for current access policies or visiting requirements during exhibition periods as the provided content serves as an archive entry for a past exhibition from 2014.
Review exhibition status, schedule, venue context, and attribution details for Francisco Durrio and his Artistic Circle. Paris, 1880–1920 at Michel Mejuto Gallery in Bilbao
An artistic dialogue focused on expressive Basque hand studies.
Explore sketches and charcoal studies by Eduardo Chillida and Nicolás de Lekuona. Learn how these Basque modern artists investigated human gesture through draftsmanship.
View Exhibition Drawings
A contemporary sculpture residency project by June Crespo.
Explore the conceptual installation 'Pura vida' by emerging artist June Crespo. The work features a human-scale shelter built from construction materials, contrasting an exotic exterior with an intimate interior.
View Exhibition Details
Gestural drawings and bronze sculpture exploring human form.
View a selection of expressive Prussian blue drawings by José Antonio Sistiaga that capture the rhythm of the human body. The display is complemented by a bronze nude sculpture from artist Baltasar Lobo.
Sistiaga Exhibition
Fourteen modern paintings and sculptures from private collections.
Trace sixty years of artistic development through the works of twelve modern Basque artists. This presentation features notable paintings and sculptures, highlighting key movements from early twentieth-century painters to vanguard mid-century sculptors at Michel Mejuto Gallery.
Exhibition Overview
A curated presentation of three notable historical painters.
Examine the dialogue between the works of Iturrino, Losada, and Baroja. Learn more about the artistic styles and historical painterly techniques of these prominent figures. Contact the gallery directly for current visitation policies.
Exhibition Details
Discover twenty works of 20th-century painting and sculpture.
View a curated group exhibition that traces artistic connections through a series of thematic dialogues. Discover how different artists, periods, and geographic contexts interact through their physical works.
View ExhibitionDiscover active art and historical showcases across the city
Locate active displays and cultural presentations across various Bilbao venues. Compare historical artifacts, contemporary art, and design showcases to find exactly what interests you before setting out.