Javier Calleja
Javier Calleja (Spanish, b. 1971) is a contemporary artist celebrated for his whimsical, wide-eyed characters that blend innocence with playful surrealism. His distinctive style, featuring exaggerated proportions and expressive figures, has made Javier Calleja art instantly recognisable worldwide. Working across multiple mediums, he creates captivating paintings, sculptures, and sought-after Javier Calleja prints, all infused with a sense of humour and charm.
Biography
"I like simple things. Simple, but not easy. I always say that I like to find a magic moment."
Javier Calleja’s drawings introduce us to a figurative world indebted to the child reader of comics.
The artist is heavily inspired by childhood, with a breath of innocence running throughout his compositions. However, beyond this is his ability add contrast, with criticism of the modern world both reflected and observed in the background of his works.
Calleja has had an impressive 15 solo exhibitions, as well as a number of group exhibition in Spain, as well as in France, the United States, Germany, Switzerland and Lebanon. He has received the first DKV award for best Spanish artist at the Barcelona Contemporary Art Fair.
