Luis Feito

LUIS FEITO (Madrid, 1929–2021).
“Maïrel Sculpture Model, No. 1. 1974–1977.
Polychrome wood.
Signed on the side.
Measurements: 52 x 28 x 26 cm; 65 x 30 x 30 cm (box).
This model of *Maïrel* offers an exceptional insight into the creative process behind one of Luis Feito’s best-known public sculptures. The final work occupies a prominent place on the esplanade of Montreal’s Place des Arts, where it was installed in 1979. Its presence in the city was no accident, as Feito maintained a close relationship with Montreal, where he lived and worked between 1981 and 1983, in addition to exhibiting at various Canadian institutions. The warm reception his work received in Quebec explains both the inclusion of *Maïrel No. 1* in the urban landscape and the presence of other works by the artist in the city’s collections.
Although it is not part of this lot, a sketchbook related to the sculpture’s design is preserved. Its pages reveal the development of the initial formal ideas, as well as Feito’s interest in chromatic experimentation, particularly through the use of red and yellow—two essential colors in his artistic language that are reflected in this three-dimensional model, whereas the sculpture in Montreal features a polished finish.
Luis Feito (Madrid, 1929–2021) was one of the leading figures of Spanish abstraction and a founding member of the El Paso group. After completing his training in Madrid, he moved to Paris in 1956, where he came into contact with the international avant-garde and developed an abstract style characterized by the power of color—especially red—and the simplification of forms. Throughout his career, he exhibited in major cities across Europe, the Americas, and Asia; received numerous awards; and his work is included in the collections of prominent international museums, such as MoMA in New York, the Museum of Modern Art in Paris, and the Guggenheim.