Massimo Dutti – Paseo de Gracia, 96
Álvaro Negro creates the new ArtInProgress installation for the opening of Massimo Dutti’s Passeig de Gràcia 96 store in Barcelona.
AIP( 2026 )
The synergy between the urban fabric, fashion, and contemporary art reaches a new milestone at Passeig de Gràcia 96 in Barcelona. Through F2 Galería of Madrid, painter Álvaro Negro arrives at the iconic and historic Massimo Dutti flagship store under the umbrella of ArtInProgress. This patronage initiative seeks to foster contemporary artistic production by integrating works by leading contemporary artists into the brand’s most exclusive retail spaces. Negro’s proposal is seamlessly woven into the commercial environment, inviting visitors to a quiet aesthetic experience in which matter, memory, and architectural light engage in a unique dialogue.
Photos: @roberto_ruiz_fotografo_de_arte
PG 96
ArtInProgress
( 01 ) / Retablo blanco axis negro, 2018
Stucco plaster, acrylic on linen, and two pyrite elements / Diptych (2): 236 × 161 cm each
The Modernist interior of the Barcelona flagship store is completely transformed by the mature pictorial language of Álvaro Negro. ArtInProgress redefines the concept of modern patronage by taking artistic production beyond conventional exhibition circuits. In doing so, the Madrid-based gallery extends its carefully curated vision to a broader audience, inviting visitors to rediscover contemporary painting.
( 02 ) / Sin título, 2018
Acrylic on canvas / 33 × 41 cm
The selection of works on display is distinguished by an in-depth exploration of materiality, where the canvas becomes a rough, tactile skin. Álvaro Negro subverts traditional painting by applying richly textured elements to classical supports. His monumental compositions challenge the rapid pace of contemporary fashion consumption, imposing instead a contemplative rhythm that resonates throughout every corner of the building.
( 03 ) / Traza II, 2022
Acrylic on linen / 240 × 125 cm
The proposal presented by the Madrid gallery in Barcelona demonstrates that historic retail spaces can function as dynamic, independent cultural venues. The carefully designed lighting of the landmark building enhances the physical textures and reliefs of the exhibited works. Architecture thus becomes more than a passive container—it is an active participant in the artistic dialogue.
Studio
Álvaro Negro 2026
Álvaro Negro
’26
Álvaro Negro
’26
Álvaro Negro
’26
Álvaro Negro
’26
Álvaro Negro
’26
Álvaro Negro
’26
PG 96
ArtInProgress
( 04 ) / SIls, 2025
Mortar and acrylic on linen / 115 × 130 cm
The exhibition includes Slls (2025), a two-panel work that explores the fragmentation of pictorial space. Through his distinctive combination of mortar and acrylic on linen, Negro investigates austere, stone-like textures. The diptych introduces a visual rhythm to the installation, contrasting with the movement and fluidity characteristic of contemporary fashion collections.
PG 96
ArtInProgress
( 05 ) / Restrollo, 2025
Mortar and acrylic on panel / 29.8 × 24.4 × 2.5 cm
An intimate counterpoint is provided by meticulous works such as Restrollo (2025). Executed in mortar and acrylic on panel, this piece condenses the expressive power of dark gestures against luminous golden backgrounds. It demonstrates Álvaro Negro’s ability to distill his poetic interpretation of landscape into collector-scale formats.
PG 96
ArtInProgress
( 06 ) / Sin título, 2018
Acrylic, water-soluble pastel, and plaster on panel / 33 × 24 cm
ArtInProgress reinforces a growing international trend in which leading fashion houses actively engage with contemporary culture. By removing these remarkable paintings from their traditional exhibition context, the project generates entirely new aesthetic readings. Visitors move between the warmth of fashion and the austere mineral presence of Álvaro Negro’s paintings.
Studio
Álvaro Negro 2026
Álvaro Negro
’26
Álvaro Negro
’26
Álvaro Negro
’26
Álvaro Negro
’26
Álvaro Negro
’26
Álvaro Negro
’26
PG 96
ArtInProgress
( 07 ) / Sin título, 2019
Mortar and acrylic on linen / 33 × 24 × 2.5 cm
This collaboration between F2 Galería and Massimo Dutti confirms the powerful role contemporary art can play within the retail environment. The installation at Passeig de Gràcia stands as a compelling example of how art can inhabit spaces of constant movement. It is a seamless fusion in which architectural heritage and contemporary artistic practice coexist in perfect harmony.
PG 96
ArtInProgress
( 08 ) / Urda, 2025
Mortar and acrylic on linen / 187.5 × 158 × 2.5 cm
The visual journey continues with Urda (2025), another major work of identical dimensions that complements the exhibition’s material exploration. The combination of mortar and acrylic creates a richly nuanced surface of earthy and reddish tones. The physical presence of the painting transforms the perception of the surrounding architecture, creating a space for quiet contemplation.
PG 96
ArtInProgress
( 09 ) / Areallo, 2025
Mortar and acrylic on linen / 187.5 × 158 × 2.5 cm
Among the exhibition’s key works, Areallo (2025) stands out as a commanding large-scale canvas. Here, the artist employs a meticulous technique combining mortar and acrylic on linen. Its vibrant bluish tones lend the work a profound poetic quality, bathing the retail space in a luminous, atmospheric presence.
