Eladio de Mora

"dEmo"; MORA, Eladio de (Mora, Toledo, 1960).
“Diver.”
Polyester resin sculpture.
Signed on the base.
Measurements: 31 x 16 x 10 cm.

Within dEmo’s body of work, the “Buzos” are fundamental because they go beyond his striking Pop Art aesthetic of resin and vibrant colors, symbolizing the viewer or the creator who dives in to explore the complex “ocean” of contemporary art.

One of the leading figures in Spanish contemporary art, Eladio de Mora discovered his artistic calling as a child. Primarily self-taught, he has developed a body of work that could be described as halfway between Pop Art and Expressionism. His creations are characterized by simplified features and pure colors, and are made from materials such as plastic, polyester, and various resins. Beneath the almost childlike appearance of his works lie meanings that are sometimes critical; he admits to seeking a balance between rigor and a smile in his work. Some of his best-known pieces are his series of bears, ducks, divers, and meninas. In fact, his sculptures are often grouped into families, so that repetition intensifies their impact. Furthermore, most of his sculptures are placed outdoors, as Mora seeks above all a direct connection with the public. He began to gain recognition through group exhibitions in the early 21st century, and in 2002 he held his first solo exhibitions, both in Spain (the Azteca and Séller galleries in Madrid, and Espacio Líquido in Gijón) and abroad (the Heyd Gallery in Hildritzhausen, Germany). Since then, he has been a constant presence on the art scene; he has continued to hold solo exhibitions and to participate in art fairs and group shows. In recent years, he has shown his work in solo exhibitions held at prominent galleries and art centers in Spain and abroad, including the Jorge Ontiveros Gallery in Madrid, the Drissien in Munich, the Florencio de la Fuente Museum in Valencia, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Málaga, the Juan Ismael Art Center in Fuerteventura, the Caja Madrid Art Space, the Hotel Urban, and the Modern Art Center—all in Madrid—the IVAM in Valencia, the MACAY Museum in Mexico City, the Los Oficios Gallery and the Museum of Fine Arts in Havana, the Arterra Museum in Vienna, and the Antonio Pérez Foundation in Cuenca. He has also participated in major group exhibitions in Spain, Mexico, Italy, Portugal, and Germany. It is also worth noting Mora’s significant work as a trophy designer, including the “Women Together” trophy in New York, the “Master Senior Comunidad de Madrid” trophy, and the “Protagonistas del motor de El Mundo” trophy. Throughout his career, he has received the “Getafe Ciudad de las Artes” (Madrid, 2005) and “Aura” (Toledo, 2007) awards, and has created monuments and installations in Madrid, Logroño, Havana, Vienna, Gijón, Málaga, and Valencia, among other cities. Mora’s work is currently represented at the IVAM in Valencia, the Arterra Museum in Vienna, the Domus Artium Museum of Contemporary Art in Salamanca, the Alcorcón Museum of Glass Art, the Museum of Fine Arts in Havana, the San Clemente Museum of Graphic Art in Cuenca, the Antonio Pérez, Antonio Saura, and Coca-Cola Foundations; the Provincial Councils of Cuenca and Guadalajara; various city councils in Madrid and Toledo; the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Community of Madrid; and the “El Mundo” Contemporary Art Collection, among many other public and private collections.