Manuela Exhibition: “1,000 Faces of Manuela”.

Marbella’s Museo del Grabado Español Contemporáneo is playing tribute to the much loved art gallerist Manuela Vilches Quesada with a special exhibition titled “Las mil caras de Manuela: Galería de retratos de Manuela Vilches Quesada.” Curated by Paloma Biyú, the show is open until the end of December.

Vilches Qusada played a major role in the culture and arts scene of Marbella. She passed away after a lengthy illness on 4th February, this year. Since its inception in 1992, she has had a special affection for the Museo del Grabado. The exhibition is divided into two sections: Sala 8, which displays works by seventeen artists created in memory of her, and Sala 9, which presents portraits from the galleryist’s personal collection.

A prominent promoter of contemporary Spanish art, Vilches Quesada opened her first Marbella gallery in 1984, inaugurating it with works by César Manrique. Over the decades, her gallery became a cornerstone for artists such as Fernando Brinkmann, Paco Peinado, Fernando Zóbel, Francisco Bores, and Guillermo Pérez-Villalta, alongside permanent displays featuring masters like Antoni Tàpies, Josep Guinovart, and Luis Barbadillo.

Her international influence on the art world was reflected in her participation in art shows in the United States of America, Japan and the United Arab Emirates. She was one of the main supporters of the creation of Spain’s prestigious ARCO Art Fair under the leadership Juana de Aizpuru.

Marbella’s artists organized a heartfelt tribute to Vilches Qusada in May 2024. During the event, she announced that she would donate to the city a unique Faustino zkorbe sculpture. The Ayuntamiento accepted the donation and it is now permanently displayed at the museum.

The exhibition is an homage to her long-lasting legacy as a passionate supporter of Spanish and contemporary art. Visitors are invited to explore many aspects of a woman that has shaped Marbella’s cultural identity for more than four decades.

You can also find out more about the following: museum is in Calle Hospital Bazán, Marbella.