Jaume Plensa beyond La Pedrera

Currently, the work of Catalan sculptor Jaume Plensa can be seen in numerous venues around the world, including the exhibition at La Pedrera in Barcelona from March 31st through July 23rd, 2023. However, beyond this exhibition, Plensa‘s work is diverse and complex, and deserves an in-depth review. In this article, we want to explore his work beyond his current exhibition in Barcelona, and highlight his time in our gallery over the years.

From March 31st, at La Pedrera, you will be able to discover the most intimate and unknown Plensa in an exhibition that, for the first time, reveals the influence that literature, language and the alphabet have had on his work.

Image of a metal sculpture being lifted by crane to La Pedrera

Installation of Jaume Plensa’s work at La Pedrera

This exhibition is a unique opportunity to delve into the most particular work of this internationally renowned sculptor. With a career spanning from the late twentieth century to the present, Jaume Plensa has stood out for his work on the human figure, where he often fuses matter, words and music in a constant dialogue. This exhibition, curated by Javier Molins, will show some of the artist’s most representative pieces, as well as his evolution over the years.

Image of people photographing a metal sculpture picked up by a crane

Jaume Plensa during the installation of his work at La Pedrera

From Galeria SENDA, having exhibited the sculptor’s work on more than one occasion, we are thrilled that the city of Barcelona receives it in such an honorable way. It makes us especially excited to remember his passage through the gallery, which never goes unnoticed.

At the end of 2016, Jaume Plensa held his first exhibition at Galeria SENDA: «El Bosc Blanc», after 7 years without exhibiting in Barcelona, his hometown. Plensa presented a work that confronted what is shown with what is hidden, the past with the future, the natural construction with the creation by the hand of man, and the sound vibration with silence.

Gallery view, 2016

Gallery view, 2016

The exhibition consisted of various sculptures of young, female faces representing individuality within the social collectivity. The white pieces, “Lou“, “Duna” and “Isabella“, seemed to float on the floor and were complemented by graphite drawings on the wall. Plensa sought for the viewer to connect with the pieces and find their own path through the works placed in the space.

For more information, you can listen to this explanatory video of the artist:

At the end of 2020, he returned to present a new exhibition «La Llarga Nit» at Galeria SENDA, in which he praised the mysterious time of the night, capable of inspiring the soul of poets. The works in the exhibition presented sleeping and silent figures, with a lyrical and contemplative dimension. Plensa suggests that, by having to stop the machinery of doing, humanity is putting into function the machinery of thinking, generating new ways of living in the world. The exhibition included suspended sculptures, works on paper, among other works.

Photograph of an art gallery displaying a sculpture and a painting
Photograph of an art gallery where a bust sculpture is exhibited

Gallery view, 2020

Gallery view, 2020

In addition, beyond the exhibitions, Plensa accompanied us on two occasions last year. The first time he participated with Javier Molins in a talk that took place at the gallery on the occasion of the presentation of the book “Artists in the Nazi camps”. In this talk, Plensa and Molins shared their reflections on the work of artists who were victims of the Holocaust and its importance in the history of art. The second occasion was also in 2022, when he participated in another talk together with photographer Jean-Marie del Moral and journalist Màrius Carol during the presentation of the book «Interior, 2022» by By Publications. In this #SENDATalks, they shared their experiences and reflections on art and creativity in today’s world.

However, even further back in time, in 2017, German sculptor Stephan Balkenhol and Jaume Plensa met on the gallery’s mezzanine to talk about «Sculptures and Public Space» in a dialogue about their trajectory and their interest in promoting sculpture as a value for society and culture.

We are grateful to have been able to witness Plensa‘s unwavering commitment to contemporary art and the opportunity to present his work in a gallery in his own city.


If you are interested in learning about the available pieces by Jaume Plensa, do not hesitate to contact us by email senda@galeriasenda.com or at our SHOP online:

Museo de Reus receives “Duna’s World II” by Jaume Plensa

Museo de Reus has opened its doors to present a true jewel of contemporary art: the exceptional piece “Duna’s World II” by acclaimed sculptor Jaume Plensa. This work, part of a private collection on loan from Galeria SENDA, has found its home in the historic headquarters of the Santa Ana district, adding a new and vibrant cultural dimension to the city.

Duna’s World II” transcends the mere category of sculpture to become a gateway to the artist’s fascinating universe. It is a living testimony of his artistic ideology and a celebration of eternal youth. Masterfully carved in marble, the delicacy and smoothness of its surface invite the viewer to approach and be enveloped by its mystical aura. The face, with eyes closed in a gesture of serene contemplation, suggests a state of deep reflection, an irresistible invitation to explore the innermost recesses of our own consciousness.

Jaume Plensa, renowned for his ability to capture the very essence of the human being in his works, leads us on a journey of self-discovery towards inner peace and spiritual harmony. “Duna’s World II” reminds us of the vital importance of introspection and invites us to immerse ourselves in the time of thought, where we find the serenity and balance so longed for in the tumult of modern life.

Sculpture of a marble face by Jaume Plensa
Sculpture of a marble face by Jaume Plensa
Image of a person photographing a sculpture of a marble face

Duna’s World II” is a unique marble piece, 183 x 67 x 58, created in 2015

The transfer of this masterpiece represents an invaluable gift for Reus, which can now boast of having two works by the renowned sculptor in its city In 2003, Plensa left an indelible mark on the city with his monumental creation “Body of Light“, which majestically adorns the entrance of Biblioteca Central Xavier Amorós. With the incorporation of “Duna’s World II“, Reus consolidates its position as an unavoidable cultural destination on the map of contemporary art, attracting visitors and art lovers from all over the world.

If you want to explore more closely “Duna’s World II“, in addition to approaching Museo de Reus, you can watch this video of Canal Reus where the details of the work are explored, in addition to hearing a few words from the councilor of culture of the City of Reus, Daniel Recasens, and the delegate of the Government of the Generalitat in Camp de Tarragona, Teresa Pallarès.

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