Joaquín Michavila Asensi

JOAQUÍN MICHAVILA ASENSI (Alcora, 1926–Albalat de Taronchers, 2016).
Untitled, 1978.
Oil on canvas.
The frame shows slight damage.
Measurements: 150 x 150 cm; 151 x 151 cm (frame).
Created in 1978, this work by Joaquín Michavila belongs to a pivotal moment in the Valencian artist’s career, coinciding with the beginning of his celebrated series *El llac* (1978–2016), considered by critics to be one of the most significant and personal periods of his work. During this period, Michavila engaged in a profound reflection on the landscape of the Valencian Albufera, moving away from figurative representation to translate his impressions of light, space, and nature into a fully abstract language.
The composition is structured through large geometric planes in soft, luminous tones, interrupted by dark, angular forms that generate spatial tension and a sense of depth. The subtle lines that run across the surface act as structuring elements of the pictorial space, creating a delicate balance between constructive rigor and poetic evocation. The work demonstrates the artist’s evolution from geometric constructivism toward a more lyrical and contemplative abstraction, where light becomes the absolute protagonist.
One of the leading figures of 20th-century Valencian abstraction, Michavila’s career was marked by constant exploration of form, color, and landscape. Trained at the San Carlos School of Fine Arts in Valencia, he was a founding member of the avant-garde groups Los Siete, Parpalló, and Artes del Arte, and also played a prominent role in teaching and academia. His work has been exhibited in major international cities such as Rome, Florence, Basel, New York, Vienna, and São Paulo, and he has been honored with numerous awards, including the Valencian Regional Government’s Prize for the Visual Arts and the City of Valencia’s Gold Medal.