The Childhood Shipwrecks of Juan Uslé

**Art Review: Juan Uslé’s Retrospective at Museo Reina Sofía**

**MADRID** — A retrospective at the Museo Reina Sofía in Madrid traces the work of Spanish abstractionist Juan Uslé, weaving a narrative from his childhood experiences of a shipwreck off the Cantabrian coast to his artistic rebirth in New York City. Uslé, a notable figure in Spanish abstraction, now has the distinction of being one of the few living artists to have two solo shows at the institution. His exhibition, “Ese barco en la montaña” (That Ship on the Mountain), showcases around 100 works spanning four decades, highlighting his unique and seductive painting style.

Curator Ángel Calvo Ulloa selects the tragic shipwreck of the *Elorrio* in 1960 as the exhibition’s focus, setting a backdrop of childhood imagination intertwined with real-world tragedy. The opening gallery features marine-themed drawings and paintings from the 1980s, revealing the emotional core of Uslé’s practice. One notable piece, a delicate untitled drawing from 1987, evokes a ship marooned on sea rocks through its ghostly and artifact-like appearance.

Uslé’s style evolved significantly after his move to New York in the early 1990s. The city’s striking difference from rural Cantabria invigorated his practice, the bustling urban environment becoming a new canvas for his creativity. The river view from the Williamsburg Bridge in New York served as a frequent inspiration. Large-scale works produced post-move convey the city’s energy in a liquid, flowing manner, immersing viewers in a serene rhythm.

Beyond his paintings, Uslé engages with New York’s vibrancy through photography, capturing the city’s mundane yet extraordinary elements. His snapshots reflect themes present in his paintings, offering a glimpse of his perspective and artistic process.

Though New York heavily influences Uslé’s art, Shirley Kaneda’s view that his visual language transcends cultural identity resonated throughout his work, reminiscent of fellow immigrant artist Gen’ichirō Inokuma’s interplay with New York’s dynamic environment.

The exhibition “Juan Uslé. Ese barco en la montaña” runs at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía until April 20, curated by Ángel Calvo Ulloa.